the thief who stole viagra from a pharmacy is not a hardened criminal his lawyer told the magistrates
A thief who stole Viagra from a pharmacy is 'not a hardened criminal', his lawyer told magistrates.
Stephen Cooper, 46, stole the erection-enhancing pills from Lloyds Pharmacy in Leek, Staffordshire, on March 19 after starting a new relationship with a woman.
The offence took place eight days after police executed a drugs warrant at his home and found £10 worth of cannabis in his room, the Stoke Sentinel reports.
Cooper admitted possession of a class B drug and theft from a shop, and was given a 12-month conditional discharge at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
His lawyer Iain Haley said in mitigation that the offences were very low level and the Viagra was for Cooper's own use.
He added: 'He formed a relationship and needed the Viagra to enable him to keep up with the young woman he had formed the relationship with. He is not a hardened criminal.'
Stephen Cooper, 46, stole the erection-enhancing pills from Lloyds Pharmacy in Leek, Staffordshire, on March 19 after starting a new relationship with a woman (stock image)
Prosecutor Karen Wright had told the hearing that four weeks before the offence in question Cooper had gone to the pharmacy and 'tried to steal four packets of Viagra'.
She added: 'He apologised. The shop did not tell the police but banned him as they have a zero tolerance policy and he left the pharmacy.
'On March 19 staff noticed him inside the store... They saw him place a packet of Viagra into a bag and run out of the shop.'
WHAT IS VIAGRA?
Viagra is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It increases blood flow to the penis to help men get an erection. At least two-thirds of men have improved erections after taking it.
Viagra is also sometimes used to treat pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs).
This medicine is available on prescription and can also be bought from most pharmacies.
It comes as tablets that you swallow, chewable tablets, and as a liquid that you drink.
Source: NHS
Cooper was ordered to pay £35 in compensation and a £22 surcharge.