A former employee at a Harrogate pharmacy who stole thousands of pounds worth of prescription medication, including weight loss jabs, has avoided jail.

Kurt Day, of Guildford Walk in Sheffield, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning (August 29) where he spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Day, who pleaded guilty to theft by an employee at a previous hearing, appeared before court for sentencing.

Antony Farrell, prosecuting, told magistrates the 38-year-old was a team leader at Well Pharmacy Harrogate, on Cold Bath Road, when he stole the drugs periodically between August 2024 and February this year. 

Mr Farrell said Day was caught on CCTV inside the pharmacy during the time period.

In total, the 38-year-old defendant stole 60 boxes of Dihydrocodeine — a drug used to treat severe pain — and 40 boxes of weight-loss jab Mounjaro, the court heard. 

The stolen drugs had a total value of £4,285.57.

Sean Wilson, defending, told magistrates that Day had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He added that the defendant had since lost his job at the pharmacy.

Mr Wilson told the court that Day had an addiction to Dihydrocodeine due to “back and knee pain” and had been bullied about his weight in the past.

He said:

Mr Wilson added that the offences were motivated by the defendant’s addiction to Dihydrocodeine and his desire to lose weight.

Magistrates sentenced Day to 32 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to undertake 25 rehabilitation activity days and ordered to abide by a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am for three months.

Day was also ordered to pay compensation of £4,285.57 to the pharmacy.