Dr Nicolaas Grobler was described as a man "who cannot be trusted" by the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee.

Grobler, 63, has already served a prison sentence after he admitted three counts of theft and two of deception at Knightsbridge Crown Court.

Two of the thefts involved prescription pads, and the other a cheque.

Grobler admitted obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception by borrowing on overdraft from a bank after claiming he was owed money from the Saudi Royal Family.

Deceived over Rolls Royce

The other deception charged involved the purchase of a £44,000 Rolls Royce car on hire purchase.

Grobler, of Gobowen, Shropshire, told the dealer he owned a house in West London when in fact he was only renting a room there.

And the committee heard how he had sent false documents to the GMC when applying to become a GP in Britain.

Grobler's registration as a GP in his native Holland had been ended because he could not show he had been practising in the previous five years.

But he doctored a letter from the Dutch registration authorities to remove any reference to this, the hearing was told.

Grobler was first arrested in April 1996, but fled to Holland when released on police bail.

He was extradited, and served a total of 21 months in UK and Dutch prisons.

'Honesty expected'

On leaving prison, he had initially worked as a locum GP before the GMC imposed an interim suspension for the eight months leading up to the hearing.

Committee chairman Professor John Ward said: "Doctors are expected to be honest and trustworthy. This committee takes a very serious view of any evidence of dishonesty by a registered medical practitioner.

"It is clear that Dr Grobler cannot be trusted."

Being removed from the medical register means that Grobler cannot legally work as a doctor anywhere in the UK.