R v VS (2016)

Defending a pharmacist charged with theft of large quantities of prescription only medicines. The theft was admitted but the issue in the case was valuation. The prosecution contended that the value of the drugs was the branded price, making this a high value offence. Through expert evidence and a series of legal arguments, the prosecution was forced to accept that the process of "brand equalisation" was in play, which had the effect of reducing the value of the offence by as much as 90%. The court proceeded to sentence on that basis. Luton CC.