(Gray News) – A doctor in England admitted to devising an elaborate plan to disguise himself so he could poison his mother’s partner with a fake COVID-19 booster shot, according to officials.
Northumbria Police said 53-year-old Thomas Kwan sent fake medical letters to the man, who’s in his 70s, claiming he was due to have an injection and arranged to visit him at his home on January 22.
Kwan wore a disguise, including a wig and fake facial hair so that his mother and her then-partner wouldn’t be able to recognize him, police said.
Instead of administering a COVID-19 vaccine, he injected his victim with poison, believed to be a pesticide, police said.
Hours after receiving the injection, the victim became extremely sick, with a serious skin condition developing around the injected area.
He was later taken to the hospital, where they discovered that the appointment reminders he had been sent were fake and informed police.
The victim didn’t die but was left with a rare, life-threatening flesh-eating disease and spent weeks in intensive care, said prosecutors.
Police said the victim was forced to have numerous operations, including skin grafts to repair the extensive damage the poisoning caused to his body.
Kwan was identified as the “nurse” who administered the injection.
When authorities searched his home, they discovered a downloaded “poisoner’s handbook” and a book on guidance for murder investigations.
He was arrested and charged with attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which he initially denied.
Last week, he went on trial and pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
Police said in a Facebook post that Kwan’s actions were “utterly despicable.”
“He used his experience as a doctor to deceive the victim into thinking the medical appointment he had arranged was genuine before administering the poison which has caused him unimaginable pain and suffering,” police said.
Kwan remains in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
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