False prescription

Ariyan Hassan, 27, (registration number 2217244) pleaded guilty to writing a false prescription for an opiate painkiller while working in a Boots pharmacy in Marlborough, Wiltshire in July 2020, Swindon Magistrate’s Court confirmed to C+D.

The locum pharmacist made the false prescription on July 27 last year. According to the Swindon Advertiser, Mr Hassan’s lawyer claimed he was threatened by an unknown man while putting the bins out at home.

Mr Hassan had “been a fool” according to Martin Hadley, defending, the paper said. He had written the prescription in a “childlike way” to be returned on Saturday – a day he was not working – in the hope it would raise suspicion, his barrister is claimed to have argued. However, the prosecution said that financial motive could not be ruled out, the Swindon Advertiser reported.

The hearing took place at Swindon Magistrate’s Court on April 14. Mr Hassan’s sentencing hearing is due to be held on July 30.

C+D understands that Mr Hassan is not subject to an interim suspension or conditions from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), and a fitness to practise investigation is on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case.

£45,000 worth of drugs stolen

In a second case, held on March 24, Bilal Nazir, 35 (registration number 2078294), who stole £45,000 of medicines over a 10-month period has been imprisoned for 18 months. He received his sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on March 24.

Mr Nazir was placed on an interim suspension from the GPhC register for 18 months on November 1, 2019. A GPhC spokesperson told C+D that, separate from the interim order, a fitness to practise committee hearing will be listed “in due course”.