Practice ban for jailed dentist

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A dentist who stole almost £140,000 from the NHS has been struck off by the General Dental Council.

Olowashe Olojugba, 67, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, had claimed payment for hundreds of gold crowns that he had not provided.

He was jailed for 18 months last year after admitting stealing credit balances totalling £139,922 between April 2003 and February 2006.

Olojugba has now been removed from the General Dental Council's register.

He had worked as a dentist in Hulme, Manchester and Appley Bridge.

'Total disregard'

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.

Steve McKenzie, of the NHS Dental Fraud Team, said: "Olojugba set out to line his own pockets deliberately, callously and with total disregard for the potential harm he could have caused to NHS dentistry.

"He was contracted to treat NHS patients but abused his position and chose to commit a substantial fraud for which he received a prison sentence.

"Today's decision by the General Dental Council sends out a clear message that the dental profession will not tolerate such professional abuse.

"If you defraud the NHS you could lose your liberty, assets, livelihood and professional standing."