A dodgy batch of Diazepam circulating in Shrewsbury is being blamed for a series of criminal offences which have taken place in the town.

Serial thief Gary Alan Milner, 28, of Shrewsbury has claimed he tried to rob a jewellers in Pride Hill in broad daylight with a glass cutter because he was under the influence of the tainted drug.

And his mitigation was backed by his solicitor Ian Durant who told Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday that several other clients had claimed to have acted strangely after taking a batch of the drug.

Mr Durant said: “Going around Shrewsbury are a batch of pills which are said to be Diazepam. At least three or four of my clients say their behaviour has been strange.

“One took a blood test to see what was in his system and to see what was happening.”

Mr Durant said the behaviour of some of his clients who had taken the suspect pills had been “bizarre”.

Milner, of Prestbury Green, Harlescott, yesterday admitted attempting to burgle the TH Baker shop on March 24. He also admitted a charge of going equipped for theft by being in possession of a glass cutter during the same incident. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Mr Durant said it was Milner’s belief that the dodgy drug had affected his behaviour causing him to commit the offences.

Speaking after the case Mr Durant said none of the affected clients would say where the drugs had come from.

A spokesman for Shropshire County PCT said he was not aware of any current problems with the drug.

He said Diazepam was a prescription-only drug.