Patient stole prescription pad

A “desperate” outpatient stole a prescription pad during an appointment at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.

Former mental health support worker Robert Higgins, 28, previously of Crossgates but now living in Kelty, used it to get his hands on prescription medicine illegally.

He appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court after admitting the December 16 theft at a previous hearing.

Higgins also admitted presenting a stolen prescription to various pharmacists in an attempt to receive medication.

Depute fiscal Claire Kennedy said NHS staff became aware of a number of blank prescriptions that could not be accounted for and it was found that these had been used in Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline.

The only time the pad had been left unattended was during an appointment with Higgins.

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said there had been a “significant deterioration in his mental health” around the time of the offences.

He had attended an appointment and was told he would receive a referral for another appointment but that this could take some months.

“He says he was in a desperate place,” added the solicitor.

Sheriff Pino Di Emidio imposed a community payback order with one year’s supervision and 140 hours of unpaid work.