Three people have been sentenced after a two-year investigation into the theft and supply of prescription drugs in Somerset, involving a man from Yeovil and two people formerly associated with the town.
Alastair Caines, 41, of Yeovil, Stuart Eales, 55, formerly of Yeovil, and Louise Larby, 42, formerly of Yeovil, appeared at Taunton Crown Court, sitting at North Somerset Courthouse, on Monday 14 September. All three had previously admitted several offences linked to prescription medicines.
How the investigation began
The investigation started after a pharmacy contacted police when discrepancies were discovered in its stock. Prosecutors said the case concerned medicines taken from the pharmacy and subsequently supplied outside the proper prescription process.
Caines, Eales and Larby had admitted conspiring to sell or supply Oramorph when it was not being supplied in accordance with a prescription. They also admitted offences involving the supply of controlled drugs, including Zopiclone, Dihydrocodeine, Diazepam and Pregabalin.
Eales and Larby additionally admitted theft by an employee involving controlled drugs. The theft offences took place between May 2022 and March 2024, while the pair were working for a pharmacy.
Sentences handed down
Caines received a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also given a three-month home detention curfew and ordered to complete a 30-day rehabilitation requirement.
Eales was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year. He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Larby was given an 18-month community order, together with a 20-day rehabilitation requirement and a nine-month mental health treatment requirement.
The three defendants denied a further allegation of conspiring to supply Tramadol, a class C controlled drug. That charge will lie on file, meaning it remains recorded but no further prosecution has followed at this stage.
A fourth woman was previously arrested as part of the investigation but was released without charge.
Medicines involved
The admitted offences covered Oramorph, a prescription-only medicine, and controlled drugs classified in different categories. The case included allegations concerning the supply of Zopiclone, Dihydrocodeine, Diazepam and Pregabalin, as well as the admitted employee-theft offences.
The prosecution followed the pharmacy’s report of stock discrepancies and a police investigation lasting two years. The supplied report does not identify the pharmacy or give further details about how the medicines were distributed.