A Bury pharmacist who stole painkillers from a pharmacy where he worked in Llandudno has been struck off by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Korush Jalili Farahani, of Walmersley Road, was told by Lord Peter Fraser of Carmyllie QC, chairman of the disciplinary hearing, that he breached his employers trust in him.

"He knew very well he should not take prescription-only medicines," said Lord Fraser. Farahani was working at Superdrug at the time of the offence, and was fined £200 when he appeared before Conwy magistrates in November 2004.

He was said to have stolen 40 Codeine Phosphate tablets and 14 Zolpidem Tartrate tablets from the Superdrug store on September 5.

He had told earlier hearings in the disciplinary proceedings that he had suffered back pain for ten years and also suffered depression.

However, he had admitted that what he did was "stupid" and had told the disciplinary committee there was no way he could defend or excuse his actions.

David Reissner, representing Mr Farahani, had told the disciplinary committee that the thefts were "deplorable" and that Farahani was "ashamed".

However, he had claimed it was a case of "self-medication for back pain rather than feeding a habit".