Successful doctor, 37, who turned to drink and drugs after her relationship broke down and stole 78 cans of cider in a wheelie bin could still return to medicine
- Dr Angharad Roberts, 37, admitted raiding hotel with partner David Potham
- Pair stole a wallet, mobile phone and 78 cans of cider from the bar
- Court heard Dr Roberts turned to drugs after breakdown of relationship
- Judge handed her suspended sentence and said he hoped she worked again
Dr Angharad Roberts, pictured, has been spared jail after admitting burgling a hotel and bar and stealing 78 cans of cider
A doctor’s life of ‘success and achievement’ spiralled out of controlled after she turned to drink and drugs after a broken romance, a court heard.
Dr Angharad Roberts, 37, had an impressive academic record and qualified as a nurse before completing a medical degree to become a hospital doctor.
But Cardiff Crown Court heard the breakdown of her relationship with her ex-partner and father of two of her children led her life to ‘disintegrate into addiction and crime’ as she admitted two counts of burglary.
She raided a bar and hotel with current partner David Potham, 36, and stole a huge haul of cider and carried it off in a wheelie bin while intoxicated.
Prosecuting, Rachel Knight said: ‘They took 78 cans of cider with them and put them in wheelie bins to take them away.’
The court heard a mobile phone and a wallet were also taken from the hotel room in Cardiff.
But Judge Neil Bidder QC spared her jail after hearing how Roberts had worked as a dedicated NHS doctor before turning to drink – and said he hoped she could return to work as a medic.
Mitigating, Jonathan Lewis said: ‘She was successful in education.
‘She qualified as a nurse in 2002 and did a medical degree before becoming a doctor.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Dr Roberts, 37, left, turned to drink and drugs after the breakdown of her relationship with a previous partner. She carried out the burglary with current partner David Potham, right, who was jailed for more than two years
Dr Roberts, left, who has two children with Potham, right, lost her job and her relationship with her other two children due to her substance abuse, the court heard
‘She started work at Abergavenny Hospital as a doctor and she was successful. Her relationship broke down when she started to drink.
‘She comforted in drink having lost her employment and lost her relationship with her other two children.’
Judge Bidder said he was ‘taking a risk’ by not sending her to prison.
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He told her: ‘You have not been struck off the register – it is not inconceivable that, if you turned your life around, maybe you can practice medicine again still.’
Disgraced Roberts told police she ‘didn’t know what she was doing at the time’ of the offences because of her drug use.
The court heard she had admitted using drugs such as heroin and valium and had previously appeared in court for drug offences.
The judge told Dr Roberts, pictured, she had a chance to turn her life back around
Judge Bidder added: ‘In my judgement there is still an option that can get you away from drugs.
‘It is clear you are a person of capability but your relationship broke down and you turned to drink and you lost employment.
‘You have not been struck off the register – it is not inconceivable that, if you turned your life around, maybe you can practice medicine again still.
‘I am taking a risk with you.’
Roberts, of Riverside, Cardiff, has been with Potham for around three years and have two children together.
She was given a 47-week suspended jail sentence for two years after admitting burglary.
Potham, who pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of fraud, was sentenced to more than two years in prison.
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