Pharmacist Suspended for 4 Months After Theft of Escitalopram and Perfume, Re-Sealing Medicine Boxes, and Bail Breach

Date of Decision: April 9, 2026

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

Allegations:

Between approximately 1 March 2020 and 31 October 2020, the registrant took items from the pharmacy without permission and without paying for them, including approximately five boxes of Escitalopram, a 100ml bottle of Verset Frenesei perfume, and a box of Sudafed tablets.
The taking of those items was dishonest because the registrant asked for Escitalopram to be ordered, took prescription-only medicine without a valid prescription, knew there was no permission to take the items, and did not pay for them.
Between approximately 1 March 2020 and 31 October 2020, the registrant re-sealed one or more boxes of Escitalopram after removing some of the medication and/or replaced the boxes.
That conduct was dishonest because the re-sealing was done to give the impression the boxes still contained medication and/or to conceal that some medication had been taken for personal use.
On or around 30 November 2020, the registrant ordered or caused to be ordered approximately two boxes of Escitalopram 10mg and six boxes of Escitalopram 20mg.
The registrant intended to use that medication for personal use.
That intention was dishonest because the registrant knew Escitalopram was prescription-only medicine and intended to use it personally without a lawful prescription.
On 19 June 2023, at Wigan, the registrant failed without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Wigan Magistrates’ Court, having previously been released on bail in criminal proceedings.

Outcome: 4 month suspension order, together with an interim suspension order until the substantive order takes effect or any appeal is concluded.

GPhC Standards Breached:

Standard 1 – Provide person-centred care
Standard 5 – Use professional judgement
Standard 6 – Behave in a professional manner
Standard 9 – Demonstrate leadership

Case Summary

Allegations

This case concerned a pharmacist who admitted a series of dishonest acts committed while working as a locum at a community pharmacy between March and October 2020, followed by further dishonest ordering of prescription-only medicine in November 2020, and a later failure to surrender to custody in June 2023. The core regulatory concern was not a single lapse, but repeated, deliberate conduct involving theft, misuse of access to pharmacy stock, concealment, and disregard for legal obligations.

The most significant medicine involved was Escitalopram, an antidepressant and prescription-only medicine. The determination makes clear that the registrant took approximately five boxes of Escitalopram from the pharmacy for personal use without a prescription. This is a particularly serious issue for pharmacists because it combines unlawful self-supply with abuse of professional access to medicines. The case also involved non-medicinal or retail stock, namely a bottle of perfume and a box of Sudafed tablets, but the Escitalopram issues plainly carried the greatest regulatory weight because of the medicine’s status and the potential patient safety implications.

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Full allegations considered by the GPhC
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Sanctions considered and imposed on the Pharmacist
Key professional learning points

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