POLICE found a £1,200 stash of cannabis hidden in Derriford Hospital during an unrelated search for stolen goods.

Officers were told that a mobile phone and purse stolen from a nurse had been secreted in the roof space of one of the hospital toilets.

However, officers initially went to the wrong toilets and unexpectedly discovered the nine-ounce bar of cannabis resin.

The drugs cache was completely unrelated to Dean Doran, who was subsequently arrested in connection with the theft of the nurse’s purse and mobile phone.

Doran, of Upcott Hill, Okehampton, had been taken to hospital by police after he was arrested from stealing from a shop.

Doran appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to one count of burglary of a staff office at Derriford Hospital on March 10 and one count of shoplifting from the Notte Street Tesco Express on March 9.

Doran, who also goes by the surname Cunningham, was arrested last week in connection with the shoplifting offence, where three jars of coffee were taken from the Tesco store. However, after being taken to Charles Cross Police Station he complained of feeling ill and was taken by officers to Derriford Hospital for treatment.

The following day, while still under the care of medical staff, he sneaked into a staff room and pilfered from a handbag, stealing a purse and mobile phone, which contained a number of sentimental children’s photos belonging to the nurse.

He was later arrested in Okehampton and, following lengthy questioning by police, directed officers to roof space above a specific toilet in the hospital.

Police said they initially went to the wrong location and discovered the nine-ounce block of cannabis resin which was not in any way connected to Doran.

The street value of the cannabis was estimated to be about £1,200.

After checking with Doran, police eventually found the correct location and recovered the nurse’s phone and purse.

Doran was granted conditional bail by magistrates and will return to the same court on April 13 for sentencing.