Student given second chance

A fitness to practise committtee has found that student optometrist Dipak Chawda is fit to undertake training, but warned that any dishonesty would not be tolerated.

Chawda had been convicted of theft of £9,600 from Specsavers Optical between June and October 2004 and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years at Stratford Magistrate's Court on May 6 2005. In March 2006 the committee refused his appeal as they were not satisfied he was fit to undertake training as an optometrist.

At this month's hearing he stated he was fully aware of the responsibility for his crime and that he was ashamed and contrite. His behaviour stemmed 'from stress occasioned by the loss of close family members and a wish to obtain some money to pay for an operation for his father who was suffering from a life threatening condition to which he subsequently succumbed.'