Dental patient is fined after she altered prescription to get more pain killers

Natalie Stones, 28, of Vicar Water Close, at Clipstone, Mansfield, admitted altering the prescription to receive 60 extra Dihydrocodeine pain relief tablets from a chemist’s at The Four Seasons Shopping Centre, in Mansfield.

Becky Allsop, prosecuting, told a Chesterfield magistrates’ court hearing on September 11: “Stones had obtained a prescription for Dihydrocodeine tablets following teeth extraction for 21 tablets.

“A member of staff noticed the ‘2’ had been changed to an ‘8’ and checked that 21 had actually been prescribed.”

Stones told police she had changed the prescription to increase the number of tablets she would receive so she would not have to go back for more.

The defendant pleaded guilty to fraud by making a false representation on April 30.

She also admitted stealing £74 of clothing from Tesco, on Chesterfield Road South, at Mansfield, during a separate offence on August 14.

Stones told police she had stolen the clothing because she was short of money because of benefit issues and she had stolen the clothing to tide her over.

Defence solicitor John Wilford said Stones had eleven teeth extracted over time and on the spur of the moment she changed the prescription.

He added that she also stole from Tesco because she is a single parent, living in rented accommodation and only receives benefits.

Magistrates fined Stones £80 for the fraud and £80 for the theft.

She was also ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs.