Shocking CCTV shows the moment five men caused a massive power outage at a major hospital.

The group of thieves are seen cutting through the cabling before a huge spark leaves the hospital pitch black in the video which can be viewed above.

All they wanted was the metal from the cables to sell off.

Kent Police were called to the outage at Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate after a major incident was declared.

The thugs caused a massive explosion after cutting through the cables

The five men, James Kiely, Patrick Kiely, Noel Mahoney, Jonathan Whitty and Thomas Kiely, fled the scene after the explosion.

The van used by the criminals was found by officers from West Midlands Police the following day.

Patients on life-support were forced to survive on an emergency battery after the senseless act.


Those in need of urgent care in the A&E department were also diverted to other hospitals.

As a result, ambulances were having to travel further to different hospitals, delaying their response to emergency calls.

The outage was reported at 7.15pm and was not restored until 10:45pm.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Kristian Eberlein from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “It’s believed all of this was done to make money from the metals found in cabling.

“The selfish acts of these five men could have meant the difference between life and death for patients reliant on the life-saving treatment at the hospital.

“These criminals targeted a hospital and to suggest it is one of the lowest and most despicable acts I’ve seen doesn’t begin to describe it.”

Patrick Kiely, Jonathan Whitty, Thomas Kiely and James Kiely

All five men were charged with conspiring to steal and also criminal damage with intent to endanger life.

At Birmingham Crown Court, all charges were admitted by the men, except James Kiely who denied he had intended to endanger lives by his actions.

Following a trial he was found not guilty on 6 October.

They were all sentenced on Friday 8 November 2019:

  • Noel Mahoney, 23, of Old Willow Close, Bow, London was sentenced to five years and three months.
  • Patrick Kiely, 35, of Devons Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London was sentenced to five years and eight months.
  • James Kiely, 37, of Darlingscote Road, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, was sentenced to three years and nine months for conspiracy to steal.
  • Jonathon Whitty, 38 of Fairfield Road, Bow, London, was sentenced to six years and four months.
  • Thomas Kiely, 27, of Tower Hamlets, was sentenced to seven years and four months. The sentence also takes into account an unrelated burglary committed in the London area.