Third fake doctor is sentenced for burglary

THREE men who wore smart suits with stethoscopes hanging out of their pockets stole from hospitals after deceiving staff into thinking that they were doctors, a court was told yesterday.

They even discussed carrying out surgical operations to make their cover more believable, as they stole credit cards and cash from at least seven hospitals in Kent, Essex, Surrey, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire in 1992, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Paul Turner, 25, a welder, and Denroy Rainford, 26, a car dealer, both from Gravesend, in Kent, admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and were jailed for two years each at a previous hearing.

John Hanna, 29, a lorry driver from Chatham, Kent, admitted burglary and was yesterday ordered to do 150 hours community service and pay pounds 250 costs. Sentencing him, the judge said: 'You could have lost your liberty, but I have heard how you have found a job and have to care for your disabled wife.'

Afterwards, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Anthony Biddulph, said: 'They were very plausible. With people entering hospitals illegally for a variety of reasons these days it was a particularly ghastly crime.'