A YOUNG Carlisle man has admitted a series of prescription fraud offences - though pharmacy staff were not taken in.

When the police caught up with 23-year-old Jake Godber, who is battling against metal health problems that include autism and ADHD, he told the officers that he was “desperate to take drugs”, the city’s Rickergate court heard.

The defendant, of Orton Road, Carlisle, pleaded guilty to eight identical fraud offences.

They involved him presenting fake prescriptions to staff in at pharmacies in Carlisle, Workington and Penrith. He also tried to have a fake prescription accepted at a pharmacy in Gateshead.

He committed the offences as part of a failed bid to obtain opioid medication.

Andy Travis, prosecuting, outlined the fraud offences and how on every occasion pharmacy staff realised immediately that the prescription Godber handed over to them was fake, and written out in a false name.

The Carlisle pharmacies involved were those at Fusehill Street and on Wigton Road. All of the offences were committed on dates between November 2 last year and January 19 this year.

Even after he was arrested by the police in Penrith on November 9 last year, Godber continued to attempt to obtain medication using the same method - by handing over a fake prescription which he had created from a template.

Mr Travis said: “He admitted the offence of forging prescriptions, saying that he was given the template for the prescriptions by another person. He wanted to take opioids. He said that nobody had forced him to commit the offences.

“A friend gave him the template and he used it…

“He used the same note each time and admitted ringing [one] pharmacy to see if it was stocked up on Codeine. He said he was desperate for drugs but realised what he was doing was wrong. But he never actually got his hands on any of the drugs by using fake prescriptions.”

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Kate Hunter, for Godber, said there was a background of autism and ADHD.

The lawyer said: “Essentially, drugs have been a recent issue for him. You will see that his previous convictions started in 2021 with possession of cannabis, which led him to stronger drugs. He simply obtained a prescription pad template from somebody and it was a case of him printing it out and writing is own prescriptions.

“He was not successful. It was slightly naïve.” Godber wanted to kick his habit but the withdrawal symptoms were intense – a form of torture" that involved cold sweats and intense pain, he said.

“He recalls one morning sitting on a bridge and thinking of doing something he should not do,” said Miss Hunter. 

Godber now realised he needed help to correct his life path. He had stayed away from drugs for seven days and wanted to continue with that abstinence. He had also expressed remorse.

The lawyer asked the district judge to take into account the defendant’s mental health an immaturity.

District Judge John Temperley told the defendant: “I suspect this is the first time you have spent a night in custody and it’s probably been a chastening experience for you; and I am sure a difficult one for your family members.”

Considering the mitigation, the defendant’s circumstances, and immaturity, the judge said he had decided to not lock up Godber.

He imposed a 12-month community order with a six month drug rehabilitation programme and 15 days rehabilitation activity.

The defendant must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Godber was told he must pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.