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Court / Fined for stealing medicine from care home

A SOCIAL care worker who admitted stealing prescription medicine from a Lerwick care home while on the nightshift has been fined £500.

Kerry Gannon, of Sandveien, Lerwick, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday to taking quantities of dihydrocodeine and codeine tablets from Edward Thomason and Taing House on or between 30 August and 28 October last year.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said nearly 70 tablets were taken in total from locked medication cabinets over three or four separate occasions.

The offence came to light after a regular audit of the cabinets, with the 41-year-old readily admitting taking the medication when spoken to by police.

Mackenzie added that the thefts “would not have impacted on the care of service users” at the Seafield Road care home.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly said Gannon had been suspended from her job and will no longer be able to work in care.

He said his client had struggled with prescription medicine addiction for years.

“She was on nightshift and she succumbed to temptation,” Gregor Kelly said.

The solicitor added that the events had actually been “cathartic” for Gannon as it helped her to “break the cycle” while also opening up avenues for medical help.

“She hopes one day to be a counsellor herself,” Gregor Kelly said.

If you have been affected by crime, help is available. Whether you are victim, a witness, or the accused, you can find independent, impartial, and confidential support in Shetland.

For victims of general crime:

For anyone affected by crime & harm seeking a restorative approach:

For anyone affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual assault, and rape:

Shetland Women’s Aid

Phone: 01595 692070
Web: https://www.shetlandwa.org
Email: office@shetlandwa.org

The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)

Phone: 01595 744402 or 08088 010302
Web: https://www.compasscentre.org
Email: contact@compasscentre.org

For anyone affected by substance use:

Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network

Phone: 01595 744402
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075791869200
Email: recoveryhub@shetland.gov.uk

Shetland Alcohol & Drug Partnership

Phone: 01595 743060 or 07342 077789
Web: https://shetlandadp.org.uk
Email: shet.sadp@nhs.scot

Substance Use Recovery Service

Phone: 01595 743006

 
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