Shoplifter used heroin to ease pain of cancer

A cancer victim who turned to heroin to ease his physical and mental suffering went out shoplifting, Burnley magistrates heard.
Burnley Magistrates Court.Burnley Magistrates Court.
Burnley Magistrates Court.

The court heard how Simon Paul Fisher (34), helped himself to 23 bars of chocolate worth £23 from Poundland in the town.

Fisher, of Forfar Street, Burnley, admitted theft on June 23rd. He was given an 18 month conditional discharge and was told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

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Mark Williams, in mitigation, told the hearing Fisher had turned to the drug as a result of pancreatic cancer. He had been in remission but the cancer had returned.

The solicitor continued: “He’s on any number of different medications for that and the side effects. Painkillers have not really been working and he has gone to heroin to add to the painkillers and to try and block out the mental pain.”

Mr Williams said Fisher’s record went back a number of years, but had tailed off considerably over the last few years.