A former Craigavon Area Hospital worker has been fined after admitting he took co-codamol from the hospital for his own use.

Paul Cranston, 50, of Levaghery Close, Portadown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the Class B controlled drug co-codamol on February 14 and February 23 this year.

The prosecution withdrew two charges of theft of co-codamol belonging to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust on those same dates.

The court heard that police attended the hospital on February 24 after a pharmacy department manager reported that a staff member was believed to have unlawfully taken controlled medication. Management identified discrepancies in stock levels and, following internal inquiries and CCTV review, Cranston was identified.

Police searched his home on February 27 and found one box of co-codamol. Cranston was interviewed and admitted taking one box without permission for his personal use. He told officers that handling such medications was part of his job and that he had been under pressure at work and suffered from anxiety. The court heard he has no previous record and was not a nurse or affiliated to any regulatory body.

A barrister for Cranston said his client had a prolonged difficulty with anxiety and had made a grossly foolhardy decision to take two boxes in isolated incidents. Cranston resigned from his job and is now engaging with Community Addictions. His new role does not involve handling drugs.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the aggravating factor was that the theft was from a hospital, where those drugs are required for the medicinal needs of patients. He fined Cranston £200 on each offence, plus a £25 offender levy.