DO convicted of fraud seeks £5m damages

A South London dispensing optician who was found guilty of defrauding more than £80,000 from several PCTs has lodged a £5m damages claim against Sutton and Merton PCT for 'sabotaging' his livelihood.

As reported in Optician, (April 20), Ronald Preedy, aged 64, who owned two optical practices, pleaded guilty to nine counts of obtaining money transfer by deception and received a suspended jail sentence and a 120 hours' community service order.

The court had heard that Preedy was registered with the GOC as a DO but routinely carried out sight tests and claimed fees from several PCTs including Sutton and Merton, Bromley, Kingston and Croydon. Preedy also signed claims under the name of a qualified OMP Dr Moustafa Yacub who was known to him.