Phoney Rugeley vets treated sick animals

A phoney vet set set up an emergency service for sick pets and drafted his partner in as an assistant, a judge heard.

Nigerian-born Olanrewaju Oduloju stole the identity of a real vet and used his name to issue prescriptions and buy animal medicines, Stafford crown court was told.

His partner, Lynda Lerwill-Carter also went out to treat sick animals, pretending to give them injections and proffering inappropriate advice to owners.

She was acting as a veterinary nurse, but in fact had a market stall selling pet food.

Their so-called "practice", called Canalside Mobile Vets Clinic, was based at their home in Rugeley, but they had minimal equipment, no qualifications and no legal right to practice in the UK, Mr Kevin Saunders, prosecuting, told the court.

He said the pair wore uniforms of polo shirts and fleeces with the words "Vets on Call" and performed acts of veterinary surgery.

Oduloju used the identity of a UK-registered vet who has a Nigerian surname.

"The mischief in this case in that it was a 24-hour call out service," he added.

"People were using it because their animals were in need."

They were caught out after one of their victims queried their qualifications with officials.

Police and trading standards officers were then informed.

Oduloju, aged 39 and Lerwill-Carter, 51, both formerly of Anson Mews, Rugeley each admitted offences under the Veterinary Surgeons' and Medicines' Acts.

Oduloju, who also admitted identity theft, was given a 26-week prison sentence suspended for a year and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community work.

His partner was given a two-year community order.

Mr Walter Bealby, for Oduloju, told the his client maintained he had qualified as a vet in Nigeria and had applied to sit the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons exam in this country.

The turnover of their business had been very low, he added.

But Mr Andrew Baker, for mother of three Lerwill-Carter, described Oduloju as a "Walter Mitty-type" fantasist.

"My client met the defendant in a bar and since that time he's used her," he added.

Sentencing, Judge Mark Eades told Oduloju: "You say you are a qualified vet in Nigeria, the court has no means of knowing whether it's true.

"Members of the public believed you were a qualified vet in this country - for all they know now, you may be a complete Charlatan.

"You sucked in to this deception your co-accused."

Speaking after sentencing Oduloju said: "I have apologised and I didn't deceive anyone."

Lerwill-Carter left the court without making any comment.