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Pharmacist jailed for stealing drugs for sick friend

A dispenser who illegally gave her friend painkillers 100 times stronger than morphine has been jailed for a year.

Natalie Calland, aged 21, worked as a dispenser at Manor Pharmacy in Brandlesholme Road, Bury, when she stole the drugs and gave them to a man who suffered from chronic back pain.

Sentencing at Bolton Crown Court last Thursday, Judge Charles Mahon said it was an extremely unusual case and he did not believe Calland's motive was sinister.

"But despite that, you had no right to hand out these drugs to someone who was not in receipt of a prescription," he said.

The court heard how Calland, who lived in Whitefield, started work at the pharmacy in August 2008 and there had been no problems with her work initially.

In May 2009, staff did a stock check and found £709 of Fentanyl missing.

Prosecuting, Lisa Bakker said: "This is a Class A controlled drug. It is a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine.

"It must be prescribed and is usually given to sufferers of chronic cancer-related pain."

Documents stated the Fentanyl was prescribed to Anthony Brown and two fictitious people with that surname.

Further suspicions were raised by the fact that the doctor who, according to the forms, ordered the prescriptions had been dead for 12 months.

Calland was arrested on May 15 and charged with five counts of supplying a Class A drug and five counts of theft from an employer. She pleaded guilty to all charges at an earlier hearing.

Mr Brown told police he met Calland through a friend and she told him she could help ease his back pain.

The first dose made him feel poorly, so she upped the dose, the court heard. Ms Bakker said: "When Mr Brown found out what had happened, he was very shocked and had no idea they were such strong Class A drugs."

Calland told police she did not realise that the drugs were so strong and that she was trying to help a friend who was in a lot of pain.

Defence counsel David Toal said: "She has no previous convictions and has an exemplary character. Her vicar is in the public gallery to show his support. She did voluntary work for Barnardo's and was working as an administrator for the local health care trust.

"A custodial sentence would devastate her."

Judge Mahon told her: "You said you were not aware of the strength of the drug. I am not sure I accept that. When he complained of feeling sick, you double dosed him."