Gemma Fletcher, a former NHS nurse, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for a series of house burglaries, thefts, and car break-ins. Fletcher’s downward spiral began in 2019 after she developed a severe drug habit following the birth of her third child and suffered a back injury that left her addicted to prescription painkillers. Despite working as a respected healthcare assistant at Royal Bolton Hospital, Fletcher’s drug addiction led her to commit crimes to support her habit. She was caught stealing medication from a vulnerable woman fleeing domestic violence and had previously been convicted of multiple offenses. The judge rejected pleas for leniency, stating that Fletcher posed a risk to the public and her history of trauma did not excuse her criminal behavior.