September 2009
Cwmfelinfach physio struck off for child cruelty
A GWENT physiotherapist who was convicted of cruelty to a child was struck off a professional register.
Last year a court heard how Gareth Terry squeezed a baby so hard he fractured nine of the infant’s ribs.
Terry, 37, whose address at the time of the court case was Mill Lane, Cwmfelinfach, admitted the charge was given a two-year community order and told to participate in an anger management programme.
A panel of the Health Professionals Council were also told that Terry failed to disclose a conviction for driving with excess alcohol when applying to be placed on the physiotherapy part of its register.
Panel chairwoman Elspheth Metcalfe said the misconduct in not disclosing the 2001 conviction was impairing his fitness to practice because the panel had received no evidence to suggest he would respond differently were comparable circumstances to arise again.
“The very serious nature of these allegations, coupled with the fact that Mr Terry is still subject to the community order, inevitably results in ongoing impairment.”
Members of the panel decided the most appropriate action was to strike Gareth Terry from the register.
He was neither present nor represented at the hearing.
