Pharmacist sent to prison for selling prescription drugs on the street

diazepam pills ss june 17

Source: Metropolitan Police

Pharmacist Niren Patel pleaded guilty to intent to supply class B, possession to supply class C drugs, and two counts of fraud

A pharmacist who stole almost £5,000 worth of prescription drugs which he then sold on the street has been jailed for 12 months.

Niren Patel, 38, of Ilford, Essex, who pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of a position of trust, possession with intent to supply a class B drug and five counts of possession to supply a class C drug, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 16 June.

The court was told that Patel, who worked at Day Lewis pharmacy in Hornchurch and Hedgemans Pharmacy in Dagenham, created fraudulent orders for almost £5,000 worth of prescription medicine, including class C drugs such as the benzodiazepines Xanax and diazepam, and the hypnotic zolpidem.

He also stole the class B drug dexamfetamine, used for weight loss and to improve academic performance, and Genotropin, a growth hormone used by bodybuilders.

In a police interview Patel admitted he sold the drugs on the street.

Detective Constable Beverley McInerney, of the Met’s Organised Crime Command, who was in court, said: “Patel abused his position as a pharmacist by creating fraudulent orders for prescription drugs and then sold them on the street. The drugs he sold are highly addictive and dangerous when given to someone without a prescription.”

Patel was also ordered to pay £713.93 in compensation to Hedgeman’s Pharmacy, £3,822.03 to Day Lewis Pharmacy and a victim surcharge of £140.

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, July 2017, Vol 299, No 7903;299(7903):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2017.20202999

You may also be interested in