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Katie Louise Prince was given a community order after stealing the tablets from Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley in January last year.
The 37-year-old, of Stickley Lane, Lower Gornal, was suspended by the nursing watchdog and, as part of the disciplinary process, was asked to provide testimonials from employers.
But, in March, a review panel noticed the writing in an employer’s reference she provided was ‘strikingly similar’ to her own handwriting.
And, following an urgent reconsideration of her case by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) disciplinary committee, she has now been struck off.
Miss Prince admitted stealing the tablets, worth £1.50, at Black Country Magistrates’ Court in February last year.
As a result, she was suspended and asked to provide a statement about the impact of her actions, as well as any testimonials from employers about her ‘honesty and integrity’.
But it was later discovered that a reference she sent to the watchdog was fake.
After the NMC became aware of the false reference, repeated attempts were made to contact her, but she did not respond and she didn’t attend a hearing in London to decide her fate.
Following the hearing, a review panel said her case was so serious it was ‘incompatible with her ongoing registration’ as a nurse.
Announcing its decision, panel chair Andrew Gell said: “Miss Prince has shown a persistent lack of insight into the dishonest behaviour that lay behind her conviction.
“Her non-engagement demonstrates the presence of deep-seated attitudinal problems.
“We are satisfied that Miss Prince continues to pose a significant risk of repeating her dishonesty in light of her persistent lack of insight.”
He added: “We determined that it was necessary to take action to prevent Miss Prince from practising in the future and concluded that the only sanction that would adequately protect the public and serve the public interest was a striking-off order.”