Pharmacy Technician Removed from Register Due to Conviction for Theft

In a recent determination by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee, a pharmacy technician was removed from the register following a conviction for theft. The hearing, held remotely on 27-28 September 2021, addressed the serious allegations against the registrant, who was not present or represented. The case involved the theft of pharmaceutical stock from Well Pharmacy, where the registrant had been employed for seven years. The thefts, which occurred over a ten-month period, were discovered following financial checks and CCTV footage, revealing the registrant’s actions of placing items in a box and removing them from the store. The investigation uncovered a significant financial discrepancy, with missing stock amounting to 20,980 units, primarily diabetic testing strips. The registrant was arrested on suspicion of theft, and a search revealed a large quantity of products in his possession. Further investigation showed a pattern of gambling funded by the proceeds of the thefts, with substantial amounts of money deposited into the registrant’s bank account. The registrant admitted to the thefts, citing financial debt and gambling issues as motivations. He was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months of imprisonment. The GPhC Committee found the registrant’s fitness to practise impaired due to the conviction, citing breaches of professional standards, particularly Standard 6. The Committee determined that the registrant’s actions presented a risk to patients and the public, brought the profession into disrepute, and demonstrated a lack of integrity. The decision to remove the registrant from the register was made to uphold public confidence in the profession and maintain proper standards of behaviour. The Committee also imposed interim suspension measures to protect the public during the appeal period. This case highlights the importance of integrity and trustworthiness in the pharmacy profession and serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of breaching these fundamental principles.