Pharmacist’s Suspension Ends After Sexual Harassment Misconduct and Intensive Remediation
Date of Decision: October 23, 2025
Registrant's Role: Pharmacist
Allegations:
- Sent a sexually inappropriate WhatsApp message to a colleague.
- Physically touched a colleague’s buttock without consent.
- Engaged in conduct found to be sexually motivated, in pursuit of sexual gratification and/or a future sexual relationship.
- Verbally harassed and intimidated the same colleague upon her return to work.
- Retaliated against the colleague for raising concerns with senior staff.
Outcome: Fitness to practise no longer impaired; 12-month suspension to lapse on 4 November 2025.
GPhC Standards Breached:
- Standard 1 – Provide person-centred care
- Standard 2 – Work in partnership with others
- Standard 3 – Communicate effectively
- Standard 5 – Use professional judgement
- Standard 6 – Behave in a professional manner
- Standard 9 – Demonstrate leadership
Case Summary
Allegations
This case centred on serious professional misconduct by the registrant, a pharmacist, while employed at Buchans Chemist in Birmingham. The allegations related to a series of inappropriate and sexually motivated behaviours towards a female colleague (“Colleague A”) during and after their shared shifts. These included sending an unsolicited message via WhatsApp stating, “Don’t sit next to me…u turning me on,” and physically squeezing her buttock. The panel found these actions were sexual in nature and motivated by a desire for sexual gratification or a future sexual relationship.
Following Colleague A’s return to work after the incident, the registrant shouted at her with phrases such as, “what the fuck are you talking about all this time,” and, “ring him back, I’ll give him your fucking number – you can go out with him.” He further humiliated her by suggesting in front of patients that one of them was her boyfriend and confronted her about her complaints to management. These actions were found to constitute harassment, intimidation, and retaliatory behaviour for her having reported the misconduct.
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- Full allegations considered by the GPhC/PSNI
- 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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