A dentist who stole almost £140,000 from the NHS has been struck off by the General Dental Council (GDC).
Olowashe Olojugba, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, had claimed payment for hundreds of gold crowns he had not provided in a systematic three-year fraud.
He was jailed for 18 months in October 2007 after admitting stealing credit balances totalling £139,922 between April 2003 and February 2006.
He had worked as a dentist in Hulme, Manchester and Appley Bridge.
Dr Olojugba, of Whitehall Avenue, had initially denied fraud during his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, but during the trial changed his plea and admitted theft.
The fraud charges were then dropped.
He has now been removed from the General Dental Council’s register.
The GDC professional conduct committee took into consideration that ‘the judge’s sentencing comments indicated that his behaviour was calculated, blatant and persistently dishonest’.
It recognised that ‘This dishonesty involved a large amount of money fraudulently claimed from the Dental Practice Board for treatment which was not carried out’.
It was not the first time Dr Olojugba had been up before the Professional Conduct Committee.
In October 2006 he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct although no action was taken affecting his registration.
The determination referred to instances where he had made ‘erroneous claims for NHS treatment not provided’.
Dr Olojugba was not present at the hearing this week – due to his imprisonment – nor was he represented.
