Pharmacist Suspended After Homophobic 999-Call Misuse, Police Assault and Threatening Behaviour Convictions
Date of Decision: July 15, 2026
Registrant's Role: Pharmacist
Allegations:
- On 22 April 2022 at Poole Magistrates’ Court, the registrant was convicted of persistently using a public electronic communications network on 31 May 2021 for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety, contrary to section 127(2)(c) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003.
- On 22 April 2022 at Poole Magistrates’ Court, the registrant was convicted of assaulting a police constable acting as an emergency worker on 31 May 2021, contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.
- On 16 September 2022 at Poole Magistrates’ Court, the registrant was convicted of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a taxi driver on 18 July 2021, intending to cause the person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used or to provoke such violence, contrary to section 4(1) and (4) of the Public Order Act 1986. This allegation was admitted during the fitness-to-practise proceedings.
- A further allegation relating to the alleged wilful obstruction of a police officer did not proceed after the GPhC offered no evidence. The relevant court matter had resulted in a conditional discharge, and the police witnesses required to prove the allegation as misconduct were unavailable.
Outcome: Six-month suspension.
GPhC Standards Breached:
- Standard 6 – Pharmacy professionals must behave in a professional manner.
Case Summary
Allegations
This case concerned three criminal convictions arising from two separate incidents in 2021. Although the events occurred outside the pharmacy workplace and did not involve medicines, dispensing, prescribing or direct patient care, the Fitness to Practise Committee considered that they raised serious questions about the registrant’s behaviour, emotional regulation and ability to maintain the standards expected of a pharmacy professional.
The first incident occurred on 31 May 2021. According to the factual basis accepted by the criminal court, the registrant repeatedly called the 999 emergency service to report eggs that had been smashed on the kitchen floor of the registrant’s home. The registrant was told that the situation was not an emergency and that officers would attend when available. The calls nevertheless continued. The police summary indicated that approximately 30 calls were made and that the registrant became verbally abusive towards control-room staff, including using homophobic language. Staff were reported to have become upset by the frequency and abusive nature of the calls.
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- Full allegations considered by the GPhC
- Panel findings and reasoning
- Outcome of the investigation
- Sanctions considered and imposed on the Pharmacist
- Key professional learning points
Original Case Document
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- Full hearing transcript
- Detailed findings of fact
- Sanction reasoning
- Details of the pharmacy professionals involved