A “dedicated nurse with 15-years service” has admitted stealing prescription drugs from the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
Miss Naomi Danielle Shaw, 37, of Kingstown Road, Carlisle pleaded guilty to the charge of having entered a secure drugs store on Willow Ward at the infirmary as a trespasser and the theft of various drugs.
North and West Cumbria Magistrates Court was told that prescription drugs had gone missing from the from a secure drugs store on Willow Ward between October 28, 2019 and February 28, 2020 while she was working at the hospital.
Police were notified and an investigation was commenced, it was discovered Shaw had a key-fob for access to the medicine store and admitted taking Codeine and Diazepam tablets for her own use, Shaw a nurse at the time had been addicted to pain relieving drugs for around four-months and suffers from back pain, she also suffers from depression.
The court heard Shaw is now seeing a psychiatrist and receiving help from other mental help agencies, at the moment she is going through a drug detoxifying programme and doing very well. She is very remorseful and is sorry for committing a breach of trust in her job.
After a probation report was presented to the court magistrates imposed a Community Order for one-year, a drug rehabilitation requirement for six-months, and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement also to carry out 100-hours of unpaid work in the community, and court costs of £175.
