GOC rejects 'premature' appeal by practitioner

James Hands, 48, who previously practised in Worksop (Nottinghamshire), told the disciplinary committee he had been working in a Caribbean practice since his erasure. His erasure had resulted in severe depression to him and his wife, who has stood by him, and he submitted that he had paid his debt to society. Mr Hands said he bitterly regretted his conduct, and that he wanted to 'put the whole sorry episode behind him and rebuild his life'. Mr Hands was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court last year and sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years due to reasons of ill health (optician, News, June 13, 1997). He had pleaded guilty to six counts of false accounting, and two of forgery between 1992-95, with 90 other offences taken into consideration. Mr Hands stated that he had carried out the offences as he felt under pressure due to what he saw as a price war in his area. The Nottingham court heard Mr Hands made false claims to the North Nottinghamshire Health Authority for spectacles which had not been supplied and eye examinations which had not been carried out. The prosecution had stated that Mr Hands had dishonestly obtained &\#163;5,700 during 1995 alone, but the total loss to the NHS could not be quantified. At last week's hearing at the General Optical Council's Harley Street headquarters, Mr Hands' application was backed by Gladys Taylor, owner of St Lucia Optical. She said she had employed Mr Harris since January this year, and had found him to be very professional. Desmond Perkins, chairman of the disciplinary committee told Mr Hands that his application was 'premature'. Announcing the refusal of his application for restoration, Mr Perkins said he had committed serious offences of fraud for a sustained period. However, he said Mr Hands could appeal again, in ten months' time.