A doctor was caught stealing painkillers from a hospital trolley, a court heard.

Dr Gregory Benchetrit, 35, was seen pocketing doses of high-strength Oramorph by a patient, it is alleged.

When police raided Benchetrit's house, in Stone Leigh Street, Notting Hill,  they found a cocktail of other drugs including the sedative tramadol and the painkiller co-codamol, SnaresbrookCrown Court heard.

All the drugs had labels on them showing they belonged to the hospital.

The Oramorph is said to have been stolen on July 12 last year.

Emily Smith, prosecuting, said: “She (the patient) saw someone dressed as a doctor take an item from a medicine trolley.

“She knew that these sorts of things are subject to various procedures and she thought it looked suspicious and wasn’t quite right.

“(Nurse) Karen Williamson then made enquiries to see what was missing and it turned out to be Oramorph.

“Benchetrit came back to the ward and was pointed out to Ms Williamson as the person who stole from the trolley.

“The hospital then called the police in order to investigate the taking of the Oramorph.

“About a month afterwards the police attended Benchetrit’s address and he was entirely cooperative but was arrested for the theft of the drugs.”

Benchetrit will claim he has been wrongly identified, the court heard.

During a police interview he suggested other members of staff had regularly taken drugs home.

He denies seven counts of theft.

The trial continues.