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Dentist's 'phantom patient' scam | |
(40 minutes later) | |
A dentist and his wife have admitted stealing more than £30,000 from the NHS by claiming money for "phantom patients" who did not exist. | |
Newton Johnson, 52, and his wife Judith, 51, entered guilty pleas to 37 offences at Swansea Crown Court. | Newton Johnson, 52, and his wife Judith, 51, entered guilty pleas to 37 offences at Swansea Crown Court. |
The couple, who ran a surgery in Llanelli, were bailed pending sentence. | |
Prosecutor Justin Gau said an application would be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act to confiscate a "substantial" amount of money. | Prosecutor Justin Gau said an application would be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act to confiscate a "substantial" amount of money. |
The pair, who ran the practice from a premises in Inkerman Street, had been due to stand trial but entered guilty pleas. | |
Mr Johnson admitted 20 offences of theft totalling £37,555. His wife - the practice manager - pleaded guilty to 17 charges of theft amounting to £32,357. | Mr Johnson admitted 20 offences of theft totalling £37,555. His wife - the practice manager - pleaded guilty to 17 charges of theft amounting to £32,357. |
Mr Johnson denied a further three allegations of theft and his wife a further six charges. | Mr Johnson denied a further three allegations of theft and his wife a further six charges. |
Mr Gau said the pleas were acceptable and there would be no need for a trial on the remaining charges. | Mr Gau said the pleas were acceptable and there would be no need for a trial on the remaining charges. |
The court heard that between January 1999 and July 2004 they claimed money from the Dental Practice Board, both for "phantom patients" and treatment that registered patients had never received. | |
They were caught out after the Welsh section of the Counter Fraud Service investigated them following a tip-off. | |
Mr Gau told Judge Keith Thomas that Dyfed-Powys Police would carry out an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to determine the extent to which they had profited from the offending. | Mr Gau told Judge Keith Thomas that Dyfed-Powys Police would carry out an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to determine the extent to which they had profited from the offending. |
Jim Davis, representing Newton Johnson, said his client was realistic about the consequences of his guilty pleas and "fully expected" a jail sentence. | |
Judge Thomas agreed to postpone sentencing until mid-May to allow the couple time to transfer their patients to other practices. | |
It would also allow time for a probation officer to prepare reports into their backgrounds. | |
He granted the Johnsons, of New Road, Llanelli, conditional bail, but warned them that all sentencing options remained open, including jail. |