A HIGH-FLYING doctor at Derriford Hospital who ordered large amounts of heroin from its pharmacy claiming it was for his voluntary work with the St John Ambulance took the drugs himself, a court was told.

Senior house officer Robert Rigley became "hopelessly addicted" to heroin and morphine even though he had worked with drug users and had written a book on the subject.

Plymouth Crown Court was told that he fraudulently claimed increasing doses of diamorphine, the medical form of heroin, and morphine on eight occasions from Derriford and other chemists in the city.

Every time, he said that the drugs were destined for the St John Ambulance in Cornwall where he was a volunteer.

But each time, he injected the drugs into his arm.

Judge Paul Darlow, sentencing Rigley after he admitted eight counts of fraud between January and April, said that he carried out a "gross breach of trust".

He added: "You must have known the risk of addiction that came with the drug, not just as a trained doctor but as the author of a document for the clarification of drug enlightenment."

But the judge allowed Rigley to walk free from court into the arms of his wife by suspending his prison sentence.

Rigley, aged 26 of Temeraire Road, Manadon Park, was given eight concurrent six-month prison sentences suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to do 128 hours of unpaid work.

David Gittins, prosecuting, said that Rigley was authorised to withdraw diamorphine and morphine from pharmacies for his voluntary work with St John Ambulance.

He added that staff grew suspicious when he ordered more and more drugs from Derriford and also from Hyde Park Chemist and the Co-op Pharmacy in Crownhill.

Mr Gittins said it culminated in him requisitioning 10 ampules of 500mg of diamorphine and 20 ampules of 10mg of morphine from Derriford Hospital in April.

The court was told that staff raised their suspicions with Rigley's senior managers, who questioned him and he immediately confessed.

Piers Norsworthy, for Rigley, said that he had become "hopelessly addicted" after first taking the drugs in January.

He added that shortly before that, he had been promoted to senior house officer with two house officers beneath him and was responsible for 40 patients.

Mr Norsworthy said that Rigley became stressed and tired, often not getting home until 9pm. He added that he did not feel he was getting enough support from his superiors.

Mr Norsworthy added that at that time, he remembered the feeling that morphine had given him when he had been treated for testicular cancer and kidney stones.

He said: "He injected 10mg of morphine and that was the start of a very slippery slope. He had to get more and more morphine."

He added that even his fiancee, also a doctor, did not realise his secret.

But Mr Norsworthy said that Rigley felt so guilty that he even rang the hospital using an assumed name and told them that a doctor was abusing drugs.

He added that he had been suspended by the General Medical Council and there was a slim chance of him ever working in the profession again.

Mr Norsworthy said that he was now heavily in debt, had sold a car and the newly-married couple would have to move to a smaller home.

He added: "The reference from the consultant shows that he was not just a high-flyer at Derriford Hospital but also in the South West. Now he has lost everything."

Dr Alex Mayor, medical director of Derriford Hospital, said: "We have worked closely with the police and the General Medical Council in supporting their investigations.

"While we fully recognise that life in the NHS can be stressful for everyone, there is no excuse for fraudulent behaviour.

"As a hospital trust, we have very good support systems in place for the benefit of all our staff."

A St John Ambulance spokesman said: "Dr Robert Rigley resigned as a member of St John Ambulance.

"None of the charges relate to activities within SJA so it's not appropriate for us to comment on this matter."

Rigley declined to comment when approached by The Herald.