A Bodmin police officer has described the vandalism of a life-saving defibrillator device as disgraceful and has warned that a life could have been lost.

The device was put out of action on the Berryfields estate in the town meaning it could not have been used if an emergency arose.

PC Andy Currie, of the Bodmin Neighbourhood Team, said: “Have you ever needed to make use of one of the defibrillators located across the town?

“Perhaps you know someone else who, in their time of need, has desperately run to this life-saving equipment in the hope that it is going to save the life of a loved one?

“It is with great sadness that we report one such defibrillator in Bodmin has been vandalised, not just in a cosmetic way either.

“Some time prior to November 24 the defibrillator located on the Berryfields estate in Bodmin has been damaged.

“It has been spray painted/defaced plus the battery had been deliberately detached which meant it could not be unlocked.

“This could have cost someone their life.

“The people that look after this cabinet also look after 232 other cabinets across the county and this is the only one to have ever been vandalised, which is an awful statistic for our town.

“Yet again, the disgraceful actions of a small minority spoil things for the majority.”

PC Currie said that CCTV footage was being reviewed and he appealed to people to get in touch with him with any information by emailing [email protected]