GOC fines dispensing optician for dishonesty

Dispensing optician Neil Cartwright has been fined £1,500 by the General Optical Council for failing to declare a driving conviction and separate investigation.

The GOC’s fitness to practise committee found Cartwright had not declared a 2008 offence of exceeding the speed limit by driving at 92mph in three retention application forms.

It also found he later failed to declare being subject to a criminal investigation with regard to a driving incident in 2011, for which he later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. Cartwright claimed he did not realise he was facing an investigation he should declare when completing his 2012 retention application form. His financial penalty must be paid in full by the end of the year.