Optician banned from practising for a year for telling patient she had a ‘cracking figure’

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An optician who told a woman she had a 'cracking figure' during an eye test has been suspended

Stewart Clough was banned from practising for a year after he was found guilty of sexually motivated behaviour towards the patient.

The General Optical Council also found Clough, 53, had touched the woman in an inappropriate way by squeezing her shoulder and stroking her hair.

Clough, of Bury, Lancashire, also told her that he found athletic women very attractive, the hearing was told.

The woman, who is in her 20s, complained after a 45-minute appointment with Clough at Value Vision, Manchester, in 2015.

CENTRAL NEWS

Stewart Clough was banned from practising for a year after he was found guilty

He later offered her £1,000 to withdraw, a GOC hearing in London was told.

Clough told the hearing that he was struggling to cope with the death of his father Norman, who had built up the family business, in January 2015, as well as significant debts and competition from a new branch of Specsavers.

He has 28 days to appeal against his suspension.

Original Article