Pharmacy Owner Struck Off After 12 Fraud Convictions Involving Forged COVID-19 Grant Quotations

Date of Decision: August 21, 2026

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

Allegations:

Fraud by false representation in relation to a Relight Retail Improvement Scheme grant application, involving representations that supporting quotations were genuine and that the businesses named in them could provide the quoted services, with the intention of making a financial gain.
Fraud by false representation in relation to a Relight Reduced Carbon Scheme grant application, involving the submission of quotations represented as genuine with the intention of obtaining payment.
Supplying a Woolstone Ltd quotation in support of a Collateral Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Supplying a DSC Ltd quotation in support of a Collateral Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Supplying a Diamond Fire Extinguishers (Brindle & Sons) Ltd quotation in support of a Collateral Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Supplying an Oxford Air Conditioning Ltd quotation in support of a Collateral Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
A further offence of fraud by false representation relating to a Relight Retail Improvement Scheme grant application, committed with the registrant's consent or connivance as a company director and with the intention of obtaining payment.
A further offence of fraud by false representation relating to a Relight Reduced Carbon Scheme grant application, involving representations that quotations were genuine and an intention to make a gain.
Supplying a Woolstone Ltd quotation in support of a Sync Chem Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Supplying a DSC Ltd quotation in support of a Sync Chem Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Supplying a Diamond Fire Extinguishers (Brindle & Sons) Ltd quotation in support of a Sync Chem Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Supplying an Oxford Air Conditioning Ltd quotation in support of a Sync Chem Ltd grant application, knowing that it was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.

Outcome: Removal from the GPhC register

GPhC Standards Breached:

Standard 6 – Pharmacy professionals must behave in a professional manner, including being trustworthy and acting with honesty and integrity.
Standard 9 – Pharmacy professionals must demonstrate leadership, including leading by example and not abusing their position.

Case Summary

Allegations

This case concerned serious and repeated dishonesty by a pharmacist in connection with public funding made available during the COVID-19 pandemic. The registrant was a director of businesses that submitted applications to Wolverhampton City Council under its Relight Programme. The programme had been introduced as part of pandemic support for local businesses and included a Retail Improvement Scheme, intended to help independent retailers improve matters such as shop layouts and window displays, and a Reduced Carbon Scheme designed to assist businesses in taking steps towards net-zero carbon.

For the relevant schemes, businesses were required to provide two like-for-like quotations for the proposed works. The Council would assess the applications and approve payment based on the cheaper quotation, with grants worth up to £5,000 each. Importantly, the determination recorded that the urgency of pandemic support meant that the usual checks and balances were not applied. Quotations were therefore accepted at face value where they appeared legitimate and were presented on headed paper.

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