Birmingham DO suspended

The GOC has suspended Birmingham-based DO, Sarah Morris, from its register for 12 months.

A GOC Fitness to Practise Committee found her fitness to practise impaired by reason of misconduct because Morris had processed false refund transactions on seven occasions. Five of the fraudulent refunds were credited to the registrant’s own card, while a further two were refunded to her husband’s card.

In its report the GOC explained that its Committee ‘carefully considered erasure’ as a punishment because Morris’ conduct represented ‘a serious case of dishonesty which was deliberate, concealed and repeated.’ The regulator stopped short of this step due to mitigating factors, including Morris’ ‘developing insight and journey towards remediation’ and ‘positive testimonials from professional colleagues who have all worked with her and are aware of the details of the allegation.’