A FORMER drug addict resorted to stealing after an admin error at a Wrexham clinic left him without his medication.

Richard Carl Borrelli, 38, of Peel Street, receives a methadone script, but an error meant he went two days without the heroin substitute, before he stole from two stores on January 12.

Borrelli first went into the Spar store on Rhosddu Road, where he stole goods to the value of £25.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates Court Borrelli, who was subject to the terms of a suspended sentence and conditional discharge, then went to the Wilko’s store in Island Green, where he stole items to the value of £20.84.

Euros Jones, defending, said Borrelli was subject to a 12 month suspended sentence on September 6 2018, but that had been extended by six months after he committed further offences.

He accepted both breaches, Mr Jones said how the two recent charges had been down to a simple administrative error at the methadone clinic, which the medical facility had since taken responsibility for and apologised.

He had been doing really well working with the various authorities and had even been preparing a business plan with the help of the Wrexham Enterprise Hub. Mr Jones said his client had clearly been in a “desperate state” when he carried out the offences.

Magistrates told Borrelli he was “very lucky” to have him representing him.

He was fined £50 for each of the thefts and extended the suspended sentence by six months.

He was made subject of a three month curfew between the hours of 7pm-7am and also pay compensation of £45, court costs of £85 and surcharge £32.