GOC suspends student DO

Student dispensing optician Lyndon Clarke has been suspended for nine months by the General Optical Council.

The GOC's fitness to practise committee ruled Clarke's fitness to undertake training was impaired on the collective basis of a misconduct incident and two convictions.

It was alleged during the hearing that he had received a fixed penalty notice for disorder in October 2005. It was also alleged that in 2007 Clarke was convicted of drinking and driving, and in 2010 convicted of assault by beating his partner after 'significant consumption of alcohol'. Clarke was absent from the FTP hearing.

The ruling said: 'Not only do the allegations represent a pattern of misconduct but the committee are mindful that the registrant has, despite ample opportunity to do so, made no real effort to demonstrate that he has put this behaviour firmly behind him, or that it does not indicate deep-seated personality or attitudinal problems.'