Pharmacist Removed from GPhC Register After Theft of Prescription Medicines Worth £44,842

Date of Decision: January 7, 2022

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

Allegations:

• The pharmacist stole prescription medicines and other pharmacy stock valued at £44,842 while working as a locum pharmacist at a community pharmacy.
• He ordered stock for the pharmacy but removed the items for personal use, placing them in his car during shifts.
• CCTV footage showed him removing stock approximately four times per week over a 10-month period from January to October 2019.
• The theft included prescription-only medicines, some of which required refrigeration, raising concerns about supply chain integrity and patient safety.
• The pharmacist was caught on 12 October 2019 when the pharmacy owner observed him live on CCTV placing boxes into his car. The police were called, and he was arrested on-site.
• He admitted the theft, stating that he was under financial pressure from setting up an online pharmacy business and described the theft as "borrowing stock."
• He was convicted of theft at Merseyside Magistrates’ Court on 24 February 2021 and sentenced to 18 months of immediate imprisonment, with an order to pay compensation of £44,842.

Outcome: Removal from the GPhC register

GPhC Standards Breached:

• Standard 6 – Behave in a Professional Manner
• Standard 9 – Demonstrate Leadership

Case Summary

Original Case Document