Longfrie Pharmacy burglar was caught red-handed
A BURGLAR was caught red-handed, literally, by police officers after he broke in to the Longfrie surgery and pharmacy to steal drugs.
Brandon Le Prevost had cut himself badly on broken glass after he smashed a window and was found in the building with blood on his hands.
Police were called by a neighbour, who heard sounds of banging and breaking glass at about 5am on Wednesday 19 June.
When officers arrived at the surgery, which is part of the same building as the Coop pharmacy, they saw two broken windows and Le Prevost still inside a treatment room. He was called out and officers saw he was bleeding.
St John Ambulance and Rescue were called to treat him, but Le Prevost became aggressive and uncooperative and he was taken to hospital in a police van instead of an ambulance. A rucksack and bag outside the pharmacy were found to contain tools and packets of drugs, some of which were labelled ready for 'customers'.
Le Prevost had a packet of diazepam on him which had also been taken from the pharmacy.
Investigations revealed that he had entered the pharmacy through a broken skylight.
His footprints and fingerprints were found in the premises.
Advocate Phoebe Cobb, prosecuting, said that Le Prevost initially denied burglary and stealing the drugs.
He said he had seen a small broken window in the building, and had fallen into another one and smashed it with his head.
He had gone inside to clear up any glass, he told police.
He also suggested that another person had been involved but no evidence was found to support this claim.
Le Prevost, 24, later entered guilty pleas to burglary at the pharmacy when he appeared in the Royal Court.
He also admitted refusing to give police the access code to his phone.
Advocate Paul Lockwood, defending, said that the phone contained information about people with whom Le Prevost had been in contact and he had not given the code to prevent repercussions from these people, who should not be trifled with.
He accepted responsibility for the offences.
References provided to the court showed that when he was sober and well he was a creditable person, but on the night in question he had been neither.
The night remained something of a blur.
Le Prevost had battled addiction for many years and had engaged with bodies such as the Community Drug and Alcohol Team.
He accepted that a custodial sentence was likely and hoped to engage with work while in prison and to try to live a sober life.
He knew how difficult this was, because he had done it before.
He apologised to all involved.
Passing sentence Judge Catherine Fooks, passing sentence, said Le Prevost had told ‘a pack of lies’ at first and only admitted the offences after being presented with all the forensic evidence found by police.
Although the cost of repairs to the building had not been huge, he had made a ‘terrible mess’ inside.
Had it not been for the commendable actions of a neighbour, the court had no doubt that the stolen drugs would have ended up contributing to the amount of illegal drugs available in the island.
Judge Fooks urged him to take advantage of the opportunities provided in prison.
‘You’re 24 years old now and it’s up to you to make the right choice,’ she said.
A sentence of three years was handed down for the burglary of the pharmacy, plus 10 months for failing to provide his phone pin.
Forfeiture of the tools and phone was ordered, along with restitution of the drugs to the pharmacy.
A formal verdict of not guilty was returned in relation to a third charge, burglary of the surgery, when the prosecution offered no evidence.
