BARROW-IN-FURNESS, UK: A former dentist with Asperger's syndrome who sent a grossly offensive letter and made obscene remarks in telephone calls to three women has been thrown out of the profession.

George Bell, 41, had been given a year to demonstrate that his behaviour had improved after he was found guilty of professional misconduct. He failed - even though he claimed he could provide a “bus load” of character witnesses.

Bell is now facing a new raft of complaints and told the General Dental Council in London on January 31 that the last year had been “pure hell."

He worked at the Cavendish Dental Practice, in Cavendish Street, Barrow-in-Furness (north-west England), but had one of the biggest commutes in the medical profession, from his home in Somerset (in the south-west of the country).

Bell had been involved in a long running dispute with Somerset County Council while fighting for the education rights of his three children. Between April and June 2004, he sent highly offensive letters to council officials.

He was sacked from the Cavendish Dental Practice in February 2006 and a new series of complaints made between May 14 and October 30 are currently being investigated. The allegations include selling prescription drugs to drug addicts, forging prescriptions and harassing female patients.

Bell was also overheard making verbal threats to the GDC after the hearing in January 2006, it is claimed. Further complaints include allegations that Bell had poor hygiene at the practice and risked cross infection.

It was also claimed he threatened he was going to damage the practice principal’s car and bury him in his allotment. Bell is further accused of launching into a threatening tirade of abuse at staff from another practice when he was not shortlisted for a job.

The dentist claims he has been discriminated against because of his disabilities.

He told the hearing: “I have diabetes and Asperger’s” and added: “I would need a damn bus for all the witnesses I have.”

Committee chair Fiona Simpson said: “The committee has heard no evidence of any reoccurrence of the kind of conduct which led to your convictions. The postponement, however, was an opportunity for you to gather a body of evidence in relation to improved behaviour on your part. No such evidence was presented to us.”

Bell has 28 days to appeal before his name is erased from the dentists’ register.

(Source: News & Star, February 1, 2007)