News

Woosehill vet jailed for animal cruelty

By Hugh Fort
July 11, 2012

A vet who repeatedly left injured animals lying in agony in pools of their own urine and faeces has been jailed for 21 weeks and banned from owning or keeping animals.

Awuah Ohene-Gyan, 53, of Battersea in London, was jailed at Reading Magistrates' Court today after he was convicted of four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals last month.

The court previously heard how Ohene-Gyan left four animals - three dogs and a cat - in appalling conditions at Woosehill Vets Practice in Emmview Close.

District Judge Lynne Matthews said Ohene-Gyan had let the surgery to become "an appalling shambles" with "filthy kennels and animals lying in their own urine and faeces".

She added he had not put labels on any of the cages housing animals, which made diagnosing and treating them impossible, and found him to be "incapable of interpreting X-rays".

District Judge Matthews said: "The suffering you caused to these animals was prolonged and unnecessary.

"The sentence I can impose for this is a maximum of six months in prison.

"You denied the charges so I cannot offer you a reduction on the grounds of a guilty plea.

"However, I have seen you have, finally, admitted you are to blame."

Ohene-Gyan was sentenced to 21 weeks in prison.

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Looks like the Woky Times has modified the story after publication to say that he has been banned from keeping animals instead of banned from practising as a vet.

According to a statement on the RCVS website, they have no power to suspend him in the interim so have to go through the whole procedure to get him banned. Hopefully this will be done before he is released from prison:

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-events/news/dr-awuah-ohene-gyan-rcvs-investigation-ongoing/

Fed up, Lower Earley
17/07/2012 at 17:01

Six months is not long enough. Hope he is left in his own pee and poo!

I had the misfortune of experiencing a consultation with him and he is as disgusting as he looks - one sock on, one off, eating a sandwich. His knowledge of animals is nil.

HE MUST BE STRUCK OFF.

Christina Horecki
13/07/2012 at 19:04

Result! So glad to hear the words banned for life, good riddance.

Rusty Shackleford
12/07/2012 at 12:52

@Merlin - I wouldn't bank on it. The RCVS let people practice veterinary medicine in the UK without any further checks, if they got their veterinary degree in a number of other countries:

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/who-can-register/

However, they did suspend Bristol Uni from automatic approval and have only just restored the privilege:

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-events/news/bristol-vet-school-receives-rcvs-unconditional-approval/

Also from reading part 2 of their annual report it shows that "Average time between complaint and DC cases is 17 months" - DC is Disciplinary Council who have the power to strike someone off. You can find the report here:

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/publications/rcvs-facts-2012/?destination=%2Fpublications%2F

So he could still be registered with RCVS when he is released from prison - not a very encouraging thought.

Fed up, Lower Earley
12/07/2012 at 12:41

Hopefully the Royal college of Veterinary Surgeons will finally act to remove him from the register? He is still active at present! See link below:

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/check-the-register-list/?filter-keyword=ohene&filter.x=29&filter.y=18&filter-type=vs

May be banned by a judge but the RCVS need to follow through!

Merlin, Reading
12/07/2012 at 12:03

Anyone checked if he actually has any qualifications ! - other that the sort you can buy of the internet

A Wellwisher
12/07/2012 at 10:47

About time too. I cannot believe this man was left to practise as a vet for so long.

MoJo
12/07/2012 at 07:51

Glad he's now the one in the cage!

I Live Here!, Right Here!
12/07/2012 at 00:58

Woooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooooo ...Hope you find a nice friend inside to comfort you on your lonely nights.... Sicko!

Merlin, Reading
11/07/2012 at 20:48

Disgusting man - hope he learns how to dress himself properly in prison. He should spend 6 months in his own vetinary practice, that would be punishment!