A drug addict stole vital medication from a major Moray hospital.
Joshua Hayes, 25, of 29 Fleurs Road, Forres, pleaded guilty at Elgin Sheriff Court to taking a total of 11 packets of drugs, which included diazepam and propranolol from a ward cupboard at Dr Gray’s Hospital on May 7.
Fiscal depute Kevin Corrins told the court that Hayes arrived at A&E that evening in a wheelchair and was later spotted “rummaging” through a cupboard by a member of staff after CCTV captured him making several trips along the ward’s corridor.
He added: “When asked what he was doing, the accused said he was looking for a plaster.
“After that, confirmation was given that the medication was missing and police traced the accused who handed them a bag containing a number of boxes.”
The court heard that despite the drugs being recovered, the hospital was left in short supply for a period because the stolen medicine could not safely be returned into circulation.
Defence lawyer Stephen Carty said his client had made significant efforts to kick his habit in the months since the offence and asked Sheriff John Halley to give Hayes a chance to “prove his days of addiction are behind him”.
Sheriff John Halley fined Hayes £260 and said: “The fact you actively went out of your way to look for the drugs is a matter that concerns everyone who benefits from the NHS.”