A PHARMACIST given a second chance by his employers after they found him taking cash, stole more than £1,000 from them two years later, a disciplinary committee heard yesterday.

One of the pharmacy's owners even gave the man an interest-free loan after he revealed he had financial difficulties, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's statutory committee in London heard.

Anthony Clive Jones, 47, of Park Terrace, Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, was struck off the register of pharmacists by the committee after it heard he had pleaded guilty at Sunderland Magistrates' Court of stealing £794 and £328 from Gill and Schofield Pharmaceutical Chemist, in South Hylton, Sunderland, where he worked.

Two similar offences were taken into consideration.

The committee chairman, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, said that although there were sad elements of the case, the committee could not see a basis for excusing Jones's conduct.

Geoffrey Hudson, for the society, said Jones started working for Gill and Schofield in 1998 and began to experience financial problems.

He described how Jones delayed banking the takings and borrowed money from them, although he repaid it.

Despite the loan, Jones began stealing again last year.

He was caught with marked cash and was later sentenced to 18 months probation and 80 hours community service.

Julia Weatherall, for Jones, said no patient had been put at risk by his actions.

She said his wife had died in 1987, leaving him to bring up their two children