Medicine burglar jailed for pharmacy break-in

A BURGLAR who broke into a pharmacy and stole £750 of painkillers has been jailed.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Oct 2016, 06:00 BST
Updated 31st Oct 2016, 10:03 BST

Paul King and an accomplice removed a glass panel at the front of Goldchem Pharmacy in Albert Road, Southsea, at about 11pm on July 30.

Revellers at the Wedgewood Rooms next door noticed what was going on and called police,

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Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday heard they followed King and his fellow burglar along Lawrence Road.

King dumped a bag containing ‘powerful painkillers’, prosecutor James Kellam said.

The 34-year-old, of Ockenden Close, Southsea, has 46 convictions for 134 offences.

After hearing King had made efforts to come off drugs and was sober, judge Robert Hill said: ‘I wish you all the very best with them but take notice that burglary has consequences.’

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Oscar Vincent, defending, said: ‘It’s the prescription medicine that remains a problem with him.’

The judge sentenced King to eight months in prison, with four months for the burglary and four months for a previous suspended jail term.

King’s co-defendant, Benjamin Dowdell, 30, also of Ockenden Close, was given a community order with drug rehabilitation and £235 costs by Portsmouth magistrates.