A South West WA paramedic has been sentenced to a 10-month community service order after pleading guilty to stealing vials of fentanyl — a potent opioid used for pain relief.

Lee Nelson Michael Headland, 40, pleaded guilty to stealing as a servant and possessing a firearm without a licence.

Bunbury magistrate Stephen Butcher called his actions an "egregious breach of trust".

Headland was a paramedic for 18 years, serving as station manager at St John's Australind depot at the time of the offences.

Between March 22 and May 3, Headland stole the contents of 30 vials of the pain relief drug, fentanyl, valued about $1,300.

Headland tampered with the vials, removing the medication and replacing it with saline, before returning the vials for use on ambulances, the court was told.

He then s

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