A vet has been struck off after being convicted of assaulting a neighbour.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ disciplinary committee ruled that the offence proved Gary Samuel, who runs Armley Vets on Town Street, Armley, was unfit to practise.
It followed a court case dating back to November 2011, when Samuel was convicted for threatening behaviour, theft and assault.
The disciplinary committee said it indicated “reckless” behaviour, and that he had since displayed very limited insight into his behaviour.
Committee chairman Prof Peter Lees said: “The committee accepts that this is not a case in which the welfare of animals has been put at risk, but takes the view that a serious sanction is required in order to uphold the reputation of the veterinary profession, and public confidence in it, and to uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour on the part of its members.”
The committee had heard that, in July 2011, Samuel, who was living in Cardiff, had been in dispute with neighbour Heather Jackson over construction works at his property.
When she tried to take pictures of the work, he grabbed her, twisted her arm and later threatened her and her partner with a large piece of wood with a nail through it.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 140 hours of unpaid work.
Prof Lees added: “The committee considers that the offences of which the respondent was convicted, and to which he pleaded guilty, were serious, as is reflected in the suspended sentences, community service orders, fines, restrictions and penalties imposed by the court.”
Samuel, who claimed he had been provoked, did not respond to the YEP’s requests for a comment.