A WOMAN has been given a conditional discharge after admitting stealing more than 400 sleeping tablets from an NHS hospital.

Alison Bridgette Randall pleaded guilty to three charges of stealing a total of 435 Zopliclone tablets "of a value unkown" from NHS Williton CDN Hospital.

Randall, 56, of High Meadows, Home Farm Holiday Centre, was given a two year conditional discharge when she appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court. and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge along with £85 costs.

She took 419 of the tablets used to treat insomnia between February 3 and June 21 this year, 14 tablets on June 22 and two tablets the following day.

Magistrates departed told her she was receiving a more lenient sentence than that recommended in legal guideines as she is of good character; pleaded guilty early; faced social and medical difficulties; and the attitude of her employer.