Teen Caught Stealing Prescriptions on Second Day of Pharmacy Job

A teenager has been told to clean up his act after he was caught stealing vital medication on just the second day of a new job. “It’s way too early for you to be in the box,” magistrate Joe Bangudu told 18-year-old Shane Worsley as he appeared before Tameside Magistrates Court yesterday (June 22).

On February 22 this year Worsley started the second day of a trial period working at Cale Green Pharmacy, on Shaw Heath, Stockport. Towards the end of the day the head pharmacist began preparing prescriptions for the next day but noticed some Co-Codamol and Methadone were missing.

A search took place, but Worsley did not take part as he said he needed to leave so he would not miss his train. Prosecuting, Gareth Hughes, said that CCTV was later checked and showed Worsley taking the drugs, including around 20 tablets of Co-codamol, and putting them in his trousers.

The next morning as he arrived for work, police arrested him. The court heard that he immediately admitted he had taken the drugs, and that he took them for himself to treat depression. Worsley also pleaded guilty at the first given opportunity.

The manager of the pharmacy said in a victim impact statement that they felt ‘deceived’ by what Worsley had done as he had come across as ‘eager’ to learn about the job. They said they felt ‘let down’ by his actions and he potentially put patients ‘at risk’ by taking away vital medication.

Mitigating, Howard Bernstein, admitted this was a breach of trust and ‘invariably an offence of greed’. “Worsley knows how serious it is,” he added. Worsley had no previous convictions prior to this and is remorseful for his actions, the court heard.

Sentencing Worsley to a community order and unpaid work, Mr Bangudu gave him a stark warning not to return. “Your age concerns us and to see you here in the box. It doesn’t feel nice does it?

“I want you to make a conscious decision not to come back here. It’s way too early for you to be in the box (dock).”

Worsley was handed a two month community order and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work for theft by an employee. He was also ordered to do 20 rehabilitation days and pay £180 in fees.