A NORTH Yorkshire chemist who failed to make sure medicines - including addictive drugs - were safely stored was reprimanded by a disciplinary committee.

Inspectors found diamorphine, temazepam and other dangerous drugs in a box under the dispensing bench in Edward Green's pharmacy in Market Place, Malton, it was claimed.

Mr Geoffrey Hudson, Royal Pharmaceutical Society solicitor, told its statutory committee in South London a year ago that Mr Green had been warned about where he kept drugs before the unannounced visit on May 20, 1998.

The society's inspector, David Slater, also found Mr Green had failed to keep proper records of drugs he had supplied - including strychnine to a farmer for killing moles.

Mr Hudson said Mr Green, now 56, who lives in the same street as his pharmacy, was not in when Mr Salter called and the inspection was carried out with locum Mrs Ann Allison present.

Mr Slater found controlled drugs in the cardboard box under the bench, as he had on two previous visits.

The controlled drugs cupboard contained only needle exchange packs.

The council alleged the conduct of Mr Green indicated "a wilful disregard by you for legal and professional duties to ensure that adequate control is exercised over medicinal products."

Mr Green admitted failing to keep drugs properly stored and a failure to keep proper records. He denied "conduct unbefitting".

At the time he had been suffering from a largely undiagnosed thyroid complaint which left him partly schizophrenic.

He had known what he should be doing, but because of his illness had not carried out his duties properly.

His condition had improved greatly and for 90 per cent of the time he was fine.

The committee found Mr Green guilty of unbefitting conduct but accepted no one had suffered from Mr Green's actions.

A Society Inspector said the controlled drugs were now locked away.