Doctor found guilty of attempted murder

Doctor found guilty of attempted murder after poisoning mother’s then partner while wearing disguise.

Doctor found guilty of attempted murder after poisoning mother’s then partner while wearing disguise.

A doctor who arranged a fake medical appointment so that he could poison his mother’s then-partner has admitted attempted murder.

Thomas Kwan, 53, sent bogus medical letters to the man, claiming he was due to have an injection.

Kwan arranged to visit the man at his Newcastle home on January 22.

He wore a disguise – including a wig and fake facial hair – along with a medical mask so that his mother and her then partner, who is in his 70s, wouldn’t be able to recognise him.

In the hours after receiving the injection, the victim became seriously unwell, with a serious skin condition developing around the injection area. He was later admitted to hospital after initially visiting his GP.

On presenting several letters for the medical appointment at which he was given the injection, hospital staff discovered they were bogus and informed Northumbria Police.

The victim has since had to have numerous operations, including skin grafts to repair the extensive damage the poisoning caused to his body. He has been left with life-changing injuries following the incident.

As part of the subsequent police investigation, Kwan was identified as having driven from his home in the Ingleby Barwick area of Stockton to a hotel in Newcastle city centre in the early hours of January 22 before the appointment. Officers uncovered that Kwan had used fake licence plates on his vehicle during the journey to Tyneside.

Kwan was arrested at his home address and subsequently found on his computer was a ‘poisoner’s handbook’ and a book on guidance for murder investigations which had both been downloaded.

Several files regarding poisons to kill a person and ideal poisons to use to evade detection were also uncovered on his computer.

Further enquiries found that Kwan had installed spying software on his mother’s computer as a way of monitoring her and her then partner’s computer usage for a period of over a year.

He was then charged with attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He pleaded not guilty to these offences – but did admit a charge of administering a noxious substances.

Last week he went on trial at Newcastle Crown Court – however, today (Monday) he pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Kwan, of Brading Court, Ingleby Barwick, was remanded in custody following the hearing and will be sentenced at a later date.

The officer in charge of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry, of Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost, I want to recognise and praise the victim in this case.

“He has been through a horrendous ordeal and his life has been changed forever.

“He has shown incredible strength throughout the investigation and we will continue to support him in any way that we can.”

Detective Chief Inspector Henry added: “Thomas Kwan’s actions were utterly despicable.

“He used his experience as a doctor to deceive the victim into thinking the medical appointment he had arranged was genuine before administering the poison which has caused him unimaginable pain and suffering.

“Thanks to the co-operation of the victim and the dedicated work of our team of officers during the past 10 months, we have been able to uncover Kwan’s scheming.

“Kwan thought he had covered his tracks by using fake registration plates on his vehicle and disguising himself during his visit to administer the injection.

“However our quick-time enquiries managed to uncover his plotting and within two days of the offence he was in custody.

“The weight of evidence faced by Kwan was overwhelming and he has now admitted attempted murder.

“While nothing can change the impact of Kwan’s actions on his victim, we do hope the fact he has been brought to justice will help them move on with their life.”