Dr.
Thomas Kwan, a Sunderland-based GP, orchestrated a chilling attempt to poison his mother's partner, Patrick O'Hara, over fears of losing inheritance rights.
Kwan disguised himself as a community nurse in an elaborate scheme to administer a pesticide disguised as a medical booster, causing intense pain and severe injuries to O'Hara, who required extensive hospital treatment including plastic surgery due to a flesh-eating bacterial infection.
The plot emerged from Kwan's obsession with poisons, which included experiments with castor beans to synthesize ricin and research into arsenic, cyanide, and nerve agents.
Police investigation uncovered a cache of deadly chemicals at his home along with evidence of his elaborate preparations.
Kwan's disguise was convincing enough that his mother did not recognize her own son during the attack.
He was sentenced to over 31 years in prison and now faces a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing where he may be struck off.
The case highlights the extreme lengths to which personal vendettas can extend, and the dangers posed when obsession and mental instability intersect with access to dangerous substances.
Thomas Kwan, a Sunderland-based GP, orchestrated a chilling attempt to poison his mother's partner, Patrick O'Hara, over fears of losing inheritance rights.
Kwan disguised himself as a community nurse in an elaborate scheme to administer a pesticide disguised as a medical booster, causing intense pain and severe injuries to O'Hara, who required extensive hospital treatment including plastic surgery due to a flesh-eating bacterial infection.
The plot emerged from Kwan's obsession with poisons, which included experiments with castor beans to synthesize ricin and research into arsenic, cyanide, and nerve agents.
Police investigation uncovered a cache of deadly chemicals at his home along with evidence of his elaborate preparations.
Kwan's disguise was convincing enough that his mother did not recognize her own son during the attack.
He was sentenced to over 31 years in prison and now faces a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing where he may be struck off.
The case highlights the extreme lengths to which personal vendettas can extend, and the dangers posed when obsession and mental instability intersect with access to dangerous substances.
