Schoolboy, 13, arrested for impersonating doctor in UK hospital - complete with scrubs and ID
Schoolboy, 13, arrested for impersonating doctor in UK hospital - complete with scrubs and ID
Share:
Officers arrested a child allegedly caught impersonating an NHS doctor in scrubs and with an ID. The 13-year-old suspect was apprehended at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, Devon, after concerns were raised by security. The bizarre incident however would not be resulting in any prosecution, police said. Instead, the boy was given "words of advice" before being let go. Further information on why the boy was allegedly impersonating a doctor has not been released.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at around 10.30am on Sunday 19 January by Derriford Hospital security following reports from staff of a male impersonating a doctor at the hospital. Officers attended and arrested a 13-year-old boy. "The boy was dearrested and the matter has since been dealt with by way of words of advice and intervention/education work from the Child Centred Policing Team. No further police action will follow regarding this incident.".
As well as fraud, impersonating a doctor is its own specific offence in the UK which can result in a fine. The Medical Act 1983 states anyone who "wilfully and falsely pretends to be" a doctor, or who uses the title without claim to, can face prosecution. A court heard in October how one woman, Bulgarian national Kreuena Zdrafkova, walked into Ealing Hospital in April last year donning a stethoscope to fulfil her "dream" of being a doctor, and was even able to administer a bogus jab to a patient. She was charged with common assault for the jab, which a court heard did not result in any harm.
Accomplished fraudster Zholia Alemi worked for two decades as a psychiatrist in the UK, despite having a fake degree from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and no real qualifications. Alemi, whose offending only came to light after she was investigated by a journalist, was jailed for seven years at Manchester crown court in February 2023 for fraud, deception, forgery and using a false instrument.
