A locum pharmacist who stole prescription drugs from three pharmacies where he worked in south Wales has been sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Gareth Parry, of Brynhyfryd Terrace, Ferndale, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday having earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of theft by employee, according to Wales Online. The thefts took place between February and March last year. 

CCTV footage caught him stealing diazepam from Cwmfelin Pharmacy in Swansea, diazepam, temazepam and tramadol from Morlais Medical Centre in Merthyr Tydfil and diazepam in two separate thefts from the Co-Operative Pharmacy in Hirwaun.

Parry was also sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and 10 “rehabilitative activity” days. A police search of Parry’s home resulted in the discovery of a “substantial cache” of prescription drugs, although he initially pleaded his innocence.

Parry’s lawyer said his client suffered from mental health problems after the end of his marriage and has had to bring up his child on his own.

Parry’s lawyer also told the court he took tramadol to alleviate the pain of old rugby injuries. The court heard Parry had 12 previous convictions for offences including shoplifting when he stole prescription drugs and was given a community order.

The court also heard he lied about his mother dying when he missed a probation appointment.

The Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “There were a number of thefts involved in this particular case and the fact each was in breach of a high degree of trust imposed on you which puts this case beyond the custody threshold.

“If I thought for one minute those drugs were bound for the streets, I'd have no hesitation in sending you to custody."

The General Pharmaceutical Council gave Parry an 18-month interim suspension in March last year and its fitness-to-practise committee ruled in September that the suspension should continue.