Disgraced Doctor Jailed for 30 Years After Poison Plot to Kill Mother’s Partner: Arrest Footage Unveiled

Forged NHS Letter. Image Northumbria Police

A doctor who meticulously planned to murder his mother’s partner has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, following a chilling scheme involving fake medical appointments, forged NHS letters, and elaborate disguises.

Thomas Kwan, 53, from Stockton, was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court after changing his plea to guilty partway through his trial. Northumbria Police have since released arrest footage, showing the intense operation that led to Kwan’s capture.

The sentencing, delivered by Honourable Mrs Justice Lambert DBE, marks the conclusion of a harrowing case. Kwan posed as a community nurse to gain access to his target, a man in his 70s, at his Newcastle home on January 22^nd.

Disguised with a wig, tinted glasses, and a medical mask, Kwan administered a lethal injection under the guise of a routine health check, telling his victim it was a Covid booster. Hours later, the man fell gravely ill, developing a severe skin condition, and was soon admitted to intensive care. The injuries led to necrotising fasciitis, requiring multiple surgeries and leaving him with life-changing injuries.

According to the court, Kwan’s motivation stemmed from a deep-seated resentment and financial interest. He felt entitled to his mother’s estate and believed that removing her partner from the picture would bring him closer to his inheritance.

Thomas Kwan. Image: Northumbria Police.

Justice Lambert said: “Your intention in visiting the home in this way was to administer a lethal injection of poison to Mr O’Hara on the pretence of administering a Covid booster. It was an audacious plan: to murder a man in plain sight.”

The court heard how Kwan created two forged letters, one of which even included NHS logos, QR codes, and medical language to reassure his victim of the appointment’s legitimacy.

The investigation uncovered Kwan’s sinister preparations, from spyware he had installed on his mother’s computer to keep tabs on her and her partner, to false license plates for his car and the use of a temporary SIM card to send reminder texts.

In his home, police found a “poisoner’s handbook” along with toxic chemicals, including iodomethane—the substance believed to have caused his victim’s severe injuries. Kwan had even created a fake organisation, complete with false compliments slips, as an alternative plan to poison the man through drinks or food.

Arrest footage released by Northumbria Police shows officers arriving at Kwan’s property, detaining him after piecing together his disturbing plot. The video captures the scale of the police operation, concluding months of work to trace Kwan’s elaborate steps and hold him accountable.

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry, who led the investigation, praised the victim’s resilience: “We are extremely grateful to him for his cooperation throughout our complex investigation and hope that now the man who poisoned him has been jailed, he can begin to move on with his life.”

DCI Henry added, “Thomas Kwan spent time meticulously planning how he would carry out this offence and cover his tracks. However, thanks to the assistance of the victim and witnesses, and the hard work of our dedicated officers, we managed to piece together what happened, ensuring he was brought to justice.”

In handing down the 30-year sentence, Justice Lambert highlighted the high level of premeditation and planning that went into Kwan’s actions, emphasizing that he abused the trust placed in healthcare professionals.

Justice Lambert said: “You gained entry to his home in the most calculated and callous of ways, under the guise of a trusted healthcare professional. You sought and obtained his (and your mother’s) trust by abusing your knowledge of the healthcare system by faking letters purportedly from an NHS institution. They were good forgeries, but such is the trust and confidence that Mr O’Hara and your mother and the wider community place in the NHS that no one would have thought to review those letters in a critical way. I agree with the prosecution that the wider impact of your offending cannot be ignored. By your masquerade you struck at the heart of public confidence in the healthcare profession.

The sentencing and arrest footage now serve as a stark reminder of the lengths Kwan was willing to go to for personal gain, leaving a trail of physical and emotional scars in his wake.