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Britain’s leading pharmacist jailed over drugs and fraud
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent29 Mar 2010
One of Britain's most eminent pharmacists Professor Charles Butler was jailed for three years for the fraud and stockpiling drugs in his bondage sex den.
Judge Gledhill told the professor: "The message must go out very clearly by way of deterrence that those in public positions of trust who breach this trust will be dealt with by way of a serious sentence."
Professor Butler also admitted carrying out a £148,000 fraud on the Health Service.
He pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy, “crystal meth” and date-rape drugs GHB and Rohypnol.
His flat in Whitechapel had been turned into a “sexual bondage venue”, the court heard. The married father-of-five was sentenced at Southwark crown court today.
Professor Butler, 64, who was made an MBE in 2005, had been serving as an adviser to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The court heard that over six years he claimed £148,000 for employing a locum to cover for him at his pharmacy in Reading.
In fact he had already sold the company in July 2002. Butler admitted one charge of fraud, two of obtaining property by deception and seven of possessing drugs.
Reader views (2)
Sad to hear this.
- Jon, Chicago, 29/03/2010 17:52
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one of his party tricks was to whip out his first aid box,it was the best in town by a long chalk.
- Scony, middlesbrough, 29/03/2010 16:16
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