[A] PHARMACY assistant who illegally supplied prescription drugs to an addict in Cumbria has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Cherie Madge, 42, posted “parcels full” of controlled substances over many months to troubled long-term internet “soul mate” Shaun Bowmer.
Carlisle Crown Court heard a partner of Mr Bowmer desperately texted Madge, begging her not to send any him more of the patient-returned medication she sourced from her place of work in Essex.
But Madge continued to do so. In February 2016, Mr Bowmer – who lived in the Penrith area – died due to “drugs toxicity”. High levels of tramadol and morphine were in his system.
Madge admitted supplying Mr Bowmer with tramadol. She denied illegally sending him four other drugs – class A morphine-based Zomorph and Sevredol, along with class C diamorphine and lorazepam.
But Madge was convicted of all these crimes after a crown court trial last month.
She was sent to prison by Judge Peter Davies, who described Mr Bowmer’s death as a “seriously aggravating feature” of the offending. Judge Davies told Madge, of Harlow, Essex: “It is not an exaggeration to say, but for you he may be alive today.”
