Banned: osteopath who used blue badges belonging to dead relatives is struck off

Nigel Graham avoided a prison sentence when he was convicted on several counts last year but the General Osteopathic Council has now removed him from its register, meaning he can no longer practise.

A GOsC Professional Conduct Committee found his fitness to practise impaired by virtue of his conviction for repeated offences involving the avoidance of fixed penalty notices contrary to the Fraud Act 2006, as well as his persistently dishonest use of disabled persons’ blue badges contrary to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

The Committee found that the degree and persistence of Mr Graham’s dishonesty was fundamentally incompatible with practice as an osteopath, and was satisfied that removal was the appropriate and proportionate sanction.

The Committee noted within its decision the strong language used by the Magistrate at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, who described Mr Graham’s offences as “despicable” when passing sentence on him in June 2015.

The Professional Conduct Committee decided that the need to protect the public interest, declare and uphold professional standards and maintain confidence in the profession outweighed the impact upon Mr Graham.

Mr Graham’s removal from the Register has effect from June 22 2016.

Last year Southampton magistrates heard the 55-year-old used his mother's disabled blue badge in the city 12 years after she had died.

He also admitted to trying to avoid fines relating to previous uses of his father-in-law’s blue badge by claiming he was with his disabled relative – investigations revealed he was also dead.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended, for each of the counts with magistrates describing it as a “despicable offence” which was carried out over a number of years.

He was also ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work, pay £70 compensation each to Bournemouth Borough Council and East Dorset Council, an £80 victim surcharge and £1,050 in costs.