Cocaine-addicted nurse sold prescription meds stolen from her work to feed her class-A habit
Amie Heller was caught after NHS bosses got anonymous tip off
A NURSE battling a secret cocaine habit stole prescription-only medication from NHS hospital wards to deal to her friends.
Mum-of-one Amie Heller was jailed for three years and eight months for looting patients' painkilling tablets.
Heller, 30, was caught after NHS bosses got an anonymous tip off and carried out stock checks while Heller worked at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Lancs.
Police were called and arrested Heller as she was about to start a shift.
She complained of feeling ''undervalued'' due to her ''extreme shifts on busy short staffed wards''.
Related stories
She confessed to having an illicit haul of the sleeping tablet zopiclone which had been stolen from the hospital and also a cache of cocaine in her jewellery box.
Police raided her home in Ribchester, near Preston, Lancs, and found nine bags of cocaine with a street value of £360.
One box of prescription medication - with the labels removed so they could not be linked to the hospital - were also seized.
Officers also examined Heller's iPhone which had texts about the supply of cocaine and prescription medicines - including messages from friends with various ailments asking the nurse if she could get medication for them.
It emerged one of Heller's main contacts on the local drugs scene was Jake Lloyd-Haydock - referred to on her phone as "Jakey work" - who would supply her with cocaine so she could deal it to her friends.
In return she would get the drug at reduced rate as part of ''payment in kind.''
Police searched Lloyd-Haydock's home and found three ecstasy tablets and £1,000 in cash.
At Preston Crown Court, Heller was jailed for three years and eight months after she pleaded guilty to theft by employee between July 1 - July 31 2015 and four charges of supplying drugs from the hospital namely zopiclone, tramadol, dihydrocodeine and codeine.
She also admitted supplying cocaine between December 2014 and July 31 2015 and was ordered to pay £120 surcharges. She now faces being struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
You have abused a position of trust to steal drugs from people who were genuinely ill.
Judge Robert Altham
Lloyd-Haydock, 26, admitted supplying cocaine and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Both face a Proceeds of Crime hearing in May during which it is expected they will have to pay back the profits from their crimes.
Passing sentence Judge Robert Altham told Heller: "You need to understand medical professionals stealing drugs from hospitals cannot be tolerated.
"It strikes at the very heart of the business of health care - something you were there to promote.
''You were responsible for diverting drugs that needed to be dished out in a regulated way for people's health and safety and you were putting them into an unregulated distribution.
"You have abused a position of trust to steal drugs from people who were genuinely ill. You need to understand that dealing in drugs is a catastrophic trade for those who are customers. It causes crime, child neglect and misery throughout society."
The arrests in July 2015 took place two years after Heller became a nurse having earlier attained a 2:1 nursing degree at the University of Central Lancashire during which she worked as a care assistant and also in a sandwich bar to help fund her studies.
In court, Heller, who has since re-trained as a beauty therapist, claimed she had never made any money from the thefts of the hospital medication and insisted she had only passed them on to friends.
She said she merely a "go-between" for Lloyd-Haydock and his stash of cocaine.
She had been dealing with the breakdown of her parent's relationship.
Philip Barnes
Her lawyer Philip Barnes said: "She had been dealing with the breakdown of her parents' relationship and her own relationship came to an end too.
"She also had a medical worry of her own and was required to give evidence at a coroner's inquiry for the first time over the death of a patient which placed her under a great deal of strain.
"Because of all this she was medicated for depression and stress and at around about the same time she started to use cocaine socially.
"It became apparent to her that people who use one type of drug are often open to taking others and she allowed herself to be used in the supply of those drugs too."
Lloyd-Haydock claimed he had been selling cocaine to fund his own habit. His lawyer Miss Kimberley Obrusik said: "This is something that all his friends and family are shocked by.
";He is very ashamed of himself and has shown genuine remorse."
On her LinkedIn page Heller said she was studying beauty therapy at Blackburn College.
On her profile she said: ''I have been working as a nurse since I finished my degree in September 2013. I have however decided that I want to work within the beauty industry.
"I am looking at completing an aesthetics course but to provide these treatments on a flexible self-employed basis.
''The environment within the beauty industry is exciting, ever-changing and glamorous.
"I like to empower women and make people feel good about themselves.
"Beauty roles don't feel like a chore to me. I believe you should enjoy the work you do. It's a big part of your life.
''Work shouldn't be dreaded as is how I felt when I was working extreme shifts, on busy short staffed wards where I felt under valued.
"I'm excited at starting a new career.
"It's never too late to learn new things and take new directions in life. Which is something I'm embracing with deep enthusiasm and with a great passion for the industry.''
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368