Man jailed for using false prescriptions in Bedfordshire 

A man has been jailed after it was discovered he was using false prescriptions to obtain around £40,000 worth of drugs from pharmacies across Bedfordshire including Luton.

Liam Brickley, 49, was able to acquire oxycodone and diazepam from numerous pharmacies across Luton and Dunstable over a two-year period, by using 92 false prescriptions in four different alias names.    

The prescriptions had been prescribed fraudulently using the names of doctors from two different GP surgeries, who were confirmed to be no longer working with their practices, so hadn't issued any of the prescriptions in question.   

His fraudulent activities came to light in March 2022 when one of the pharmacists recognised him as someone she had served in a different pharmacy two days earlier. She raised it with her supervisor and checks were carried out which showed that the prescriptions were false.    

He visited a second pharmacy the following day and when further checks were made, the prescription was also found to be false, as the form used was an old version and was missing key information, such as an NHS number.    

Brickley was identified via CCTV and was arrested and charged with fraud offences, before being released on bail pending further enquiries.     

However, it wasn't long before Brickley was found to be offending again, breaching his bail conditions.    

When his home address and car were searched, officers found several pieces of paper with practice signatures relating to the two GP surgeries, along with a number of false prescriptions, blank prescriptions, three boxes of diazepam and a pack of oxycodone.    

He was arrested again in December 2022 and was further charged with a number of fraud and drug offences.    

Brickley, of Shropshire Close, Mitcham, Greater London, pleaded guilty to several counts of the use of a false prescription for a scheduled drug, possession of an article for use in fraud and possession of Class A and Class C drugs. 

He appeared at Luton Crown Court on Friday (21 July) and was sentenced to a total of one year and six months in prison.   

Detective Sergeant Emma Huggett from Bedfordshire Police, who investigated the case, said: "I am glad that Brickley has received a custodial sentence for his fraudulent actions, particularly as he had the audacity to continue offending even after he was caught the first time.   

"Falsely obtaining such strong medication is a serious crime as you don't know where these drugs may end up and who could be harmed because of them. 

"Brickley showed that he had no remorse as he continued to fraudulently obtain these drugs costing the NHS an estimated £40,000. I'm glad he will now be off the streets for a period of time."