A bogus doctor who administered morphine and other drugs to a man dying of cancer has been jailed for eight years.
Michael Harris, 34, had only three months training in chemistry on a Wigan and Leigh college course, Bolton Crown Court heard. Harris had dropped out of a chemistry course at Wigan and Leigh college but had "completely taken in" his girlfriend of the time together with family and friends, by telling them he was studying to become a doctor. He had even posed for photographs in a cap and ceremonial gown and made excuses for the lack of a ceremony.
He pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, two offences of obtaining money by deception, indecent assault, procuring sex by threat, blackmail and causing Pauline and Jonathan Hockin to administer noxious substances.
The court heard that Harris, of Grange Park, St. Helens, had always wanted to be a doctor, but was not clever enough, so he invented a life to act out his fantasies.
Prosecuting, Mr David Friesner said the defendant, a member of the Freemasons Lodge in Liverpool, had become friendly with David Hockin, who was suffering from bowel cancer. On one occasion Harris had taken four slow release morphine tablets, mixed them with four tablets for his bowels, crushed them with concentrate morphine and injected the liquid into David Hockin's mouth. Mr Hockin's ex-wife, Pauline, who now lives in Hindley Green, and his son, Jonathan, 17, also administered the drugs in the same way after watching Harris.
Mr Friesner said that in another case Harris had befriended a woman and performed intimate examinations. The prosecutor also told the court that Harris had, on another occasion, procured sexual intercourse from her, by making threats to her and her children. He also made her hand over 500 pounds she had made by selling furniture. Harris also took several thousand pounds off another man, to pay off debts run up by the man's son.
Mr Thomas Fitzpatrick, defending, said that from an early age Harris was doted on by his parents and had spent time with his father, who was a porter and volunteer at St Helens Providence Hospital. "He wanted to become a doctor, but he was unsuccessful because he was lazy and not clever enough, whatever, he did not make it. He could not bring to his parents the fact that he was a failure."
He said that to Harris, having the ceremonial photograph taken had not indicated some form of future plan but was to enable his deception to continue. Harris found it difficult to extricate himself from his lies which had had a snowball effect.
"His persona had been nurtured by people's admiration of doctors but he was, in fact, a nobody in reality." Mr Fitzpatrick said Harris was "broken hearted and repentant." He also said that Harris had been a good friend of David Hockin and had wanted to help him.
Jailing Harris, Judge Gillian Ruauax said, "You are a weak individual who started this deception because you could not meet the necessary educational qualifications to enter the mediacal profession. I took meticulous planning and all with breathtaking audacity. Your great reputation was not backed up by your achievements."