Eye surgeon who stole £370 in ties and cufflinks from Hugo Boss at Heathrow after leaving his phone number tells tribunal he was a ‘human in distress’ following wife’s miscarriage
- Dr Gurjeet Jutley, 37, stole £370 in cufflinks and ties from Heathrow Hugo Boss
- He was caught on CCTV using his jacket to block staff viewing the crime
- Eye surgeon blamed incident on distress of wife’s miscarriage and illness
- He urged disciplinary panel to be lenient after police gave him a caution
Dr Gurjeet Jutley, 37, pictured, stole £370 in cufflinks and ties from a Hugo Boss shop at Heathrow Airport
A consultant eye surgeon stole £370 of cufflinks and ties from an airport Hugo Boss after struggling to cope when his wife had a miscarriage and then became terminally ill.
Dr Gurjeet Jutley, 37, was arrested by police in the departures lounge at Heathrow Airport after shoplifting just before he was about to a board a flight to Armenia to attend a medical presentation.
The surgeon, who works at Oxford Eye Hospital, blamed his actions on being a ‘human in distress’ at a disciplinary tribunal where he apologised for his actions but begged to keep his job.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing in Manchester was also told he left his phone number with the shop after asking if they could secure a jacket in his size moments before the theft.
Staff at the store in Terminal Four discovered the items missing when Dr Jutley left – then played back CCTV and watched as he sneaked the goods into his travel bag after draping his jacket over a display.
The expert on glaucoma and complex cataract surgery, later accepted a police caution after he admitted theft but claimed he was going through a ‘difficult period’ over his wife’s health problems.
He also claimed he was on anti-depressants at the time although his GP later said he wasn’t taking any medication.
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Dr Jutley, of Barnet, North London, apologised for his dishonesty but urged a disciplinary panel to let him off with a warning.
The incident occurred on October 30 last year as the doctor, who is also a lecturer at the University College London, had been trying on coats in the designer shop ahead of him visiting the former Soviet state to learn about new medical equipment.
Rebecca Vanstone, lawyer for the General Medical Council said: ‘He was looking to purchase a jacket and while he tried one on placed his own jacket on the display.
The consultant eye surgeon, who works at Oxford Eye Hospital, apologised for the crime at a disciplinary hearing and said it happened because he was a ‘human in distress’
The hearing was told Dr Jutley, who is also a lecturer at University College London, was struggling after his wife had a miscarriage and was diagnosed with a terminal illness
‘The store assistant said they didn’t have the correct size so they contacted another store in the airport to see if they had the correct size.
‘He left his mobile phone number with the assistant who said she would call him when the jacket in the correct size arrived in the correct store.
‘But after he left he store, the assistant noticed ties and cuff links were missing. Later when Dr Jutley returned to the store to collect his size and whilst he was being served, the manager watched CCTV and told the assistant he was the person taking the items.
‘The assistant left the store straight away and stopped two police officers and showed them the CCTV. The police searched the lounge of the airport and found Dr Jutley. He said he had taken the cuff links without paying for them and handed them over.’
Ms Vanstone added: ‘He was asked about taking the other items to which he replied: “No”.
‘But when searched for the Hugo Boss ties, they were found on him and he he then admitted to the police he had taken them.
‘He was arrested and he explained in his interview that he had put the items in his bag. But he could not explain why he had done it. He told the police of his wife’s health problems.’
Giving evidence, Dr Jutley said: ‘I am sorry for what happened but my recollection is hazy. Last year I was a human being in distress who also happened to be a doctor.
‘I have tried to reflect on events of that day, I was saying that my memory is usually quite good, but at the time my memory was suffering and my mood was quite low.
The doctor, pictured at Wimbledon, says he cannot remember the incident but has ‘flashbacks’
‘I had to write things down and I can put my hand in my heart and say looking back I dint remember anything.
‘I have flashbacks, I have prompts to go through it, I have been through the situation with a fine tooth comb but I say I cannot exclude intent at that time.
‘There was no premeditation. I didn’t plan this thinking I am going to take something.
‘I love what I do, I love my job and I love having the ability to help people with their sight, it’s something I cherish, irrespective of what I was going through at the time.
‘After my wife and I were married we went through a miscarriage. By January 2017 I had started losing weight and I was losing enjoyment in my hobbies.’
He added: ‘I don’t think this affected my ability to work or function at work – and in fact I had to step up my role as a consultant and that was fine.
‘But on that day I was worried about the impending death of my partner and my immediate thought was her. During that day I had left my phone charged at home and the taxi had to go back and get it.
‘I didn’t have the correct jacket with me, I didn’t realise what the temperature was like in Armenia and I wanted to purchase a coat.
‘I was going for a presentation and I had a phone call prior to making the purchase which led to me feeling disappointed and confused.
‘After I had the phone call, I started trying on jackets, I have got a poor recollections if events.
‘I do have flashbacks and prompts but I just can’t piece it together. I have no recollection after that phone call and it’s something that haunted me.
‘I sincerely can’t remember picking up the cuff links or ties. I don’t recall paying with cash or credit cards. I spoke to my GP about saying I was on antidepressants during my police interview and I have never been on them – I do not know why I said the things I said.
‘I am a fiercely spiritual and deep human being and a respect honesty in my life. This has fallen below the standards I set for myself.
‘Personally, I am deeply apologetic. I am very sorry about the circumstances and I am sorry about how I find myself in this position. I understand the impact and I am ashamed. I fully understand the impact on my patients.’
Dr Jutley, left at the hearing in Manchester and right in his job, had even left his contact details with the shop after asking about getting a jacket in his size
Dr Jutley also said the incident prompted him to seek therapy and sparked a ‘positive change’ in his life.
He said: ‘For me this was a catalyst to change. I appreciate I was distressed at the time and I got help and I did a lot of things to ensure that I have help going forward so I won’t find myself in a position like that again.
‘I have used this event in a positive way. I have arranged talking sessions about mental health at work and I have seen two psychiatrists to help with getting to grips with events.
‘I can’t say I remember that weekend and it fills me with great shame. I cannot say I didn’t take items knowingly.
‘I feel shame when I think back to it. Despite what I was going through, I accept responsibility for it.
‘A reasonable member of the public would feel let down and they would feel more than disappointed. A rational person would feel devastated.’
He added: ‘I understand at that time I was having multiple issues of distress, I have true to reflect on that and I have been taking an active step. At the time of that day my one thought was my partner. I had no motive.
‘I still am apologetic and I am sorry for the events of that day and I cannot fathom how I got there. I can never get more responsibility than by apologising for my dishonesty.’
Dr Jutley’s lawyer David Morris said: ‘This seemed to be an irrational act and he had not knowingly taken those items. This was an unequivocal display of dishonesty and he has a selfless desire to be punished.
‘His actions were driven by bad decisions. He takes full responsibility and understands the damage done to public confidence. A suitable punishment would be a warning.’
The hearing continues.
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