A GP who poisoned his mother’s partner during a fake Covid jab appointment has been sentenced to more than 31 years in prison.
Dr Thomas Kwan was charged by police in February following a report of ‘suspected poisoning’ in Newcastle.
He went on trial at Newcastle Crown Court in October, but he subsequently pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
He was back before the same court today, where he was sentenced to 31 years and five months in prison.
Dr Kwan sent counterfeit NHS letters to his mother’s then-partner, claiming he was due to have an injection and arranged to visit the man at his home on 22 January.
According to Northumbria Police, he wore a disguise to carry out the visit ‘including a wig and fake facial hair’ and a face mask.
In the hours after receiving the injection, the man became ‘seriously unwell’, with a ‘serious skin condition developing around the injection area’ and he was later admitted to hospital after initially visiting his GP.
On presenting the letters for the appointment at which he was given the injection, hospital staff realised they were fake and informed Northumbria Police.
The man has since had to have ‘numerous operations’, including skin grafts to repair the damage the poisoning caused to his body, and has been left with ‘life-changing injuries’ following the incident, the force said.
Following the hearing today, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry said: ‘I’d like to take this opportunity to reiterate our praise for the victim in this case.
‘We are extremely grateful to him for his co-operation throughout our complex investigation and hope that now the man who poisoned him has been jailed he can begin to move on with his life.’
Dr Kwan was arrested at his home address in the Ingleby Barwick area of Stockton and police found a ‘poisoner’s handbook’ and ‘a book on guidance for murder investigations’ on his computer.
A spokesperson for Happy House practice, where Dr Kwan was previously a GP partner, told Pulse that Dr Kwan left the practice following his arrest and that an audit of practice records has been carried out to ensure no arm had been done to patients.
According to the GMC medical register, Dr Kwan’s medical licence status is ‘suspended’.
Detective Chief Inspector Henry added: ‘Thomas Kwan spent time meticulously planning how he would carry out this offence and cover his tracks.
‘However, thanks to the assistance of the victim and witnesses, and the hard work of our dedicated officers, we managed to piece together what happened, ensuring he was brought to justice.’
I wonder if the practice’s name “Happy House” might have been a clue for the police investigating his crime given its the name of the local Chinese takeaway in Basingstoke?