Taunton optometrist Colin Vallance banned by GOC

Somerset optometrist Colin Vallance has been erased from the GOC’s registers after being found guilty of possessing indecent photographs of children

The GOC’s fitness to practise committee heard of his conviction of three offences of possessing indecent photographs of children and one offence of distributing an indecent photograph of a child.

Committee chair Ian Crookall said: ‘In the committee’s view the registrant’s conduct is fundamentally incompatible with continuing registration as a professional. The committee is of the view that the Registrant does pose a real continuing risk of harm to the public.

‘The committee determined that erasure was the only appropriate sanction for public protection. Further, the committee is of the view that reasonable and well informed members of the public would be outraged if the registrant were not erased from the register.