Dentist's 'phantom patient' scam

The Johnsons will be sentenced in May

A dentist and his wife have admitted stealing more than £30,000 from the NHS by claiming money for so-called "phantom patients".

Newton Johnson, 52, and his wife Judith, 51, entered guilty pleas to 37 offences at Swansea Crown Court.

The couple, who ran a surgery in Llanelli, were bailed pending sentence.

Prosecutor Justin Gau said an application would be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act to confiscate a "substantial" amount of money.

The pair, who ran the practice from a premises in Inkerman Street, had been due to stand trial but entered guilty pleas.

Newton Johnson admitted 20 offences of theft totalling £37,555. His wife - the practice manager - pleaded guilty to 17 charges of theft amounting to £32,357.

Newton Johnson denied a further three allegations of theft and his wife a further six charges.

Mr Gau said the pleas were acceptable and there would be no need for a trial on the remaining charges.

The court heard that between January 1999 and July 2004 they claimed money from the Dental Practice Board, both for "phantom patients" and treatment that registered patients had never received.

They were caught out after the Welsh section of the Counter Fraud Service investigated them following a tip-off.

Mr Gau told Judge Keith Thomas that Dyfed-Powys Police would carry out an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to determine the extent to which they had profited from the offending.

Jim Davis, representing Newton Johnson, said his client was realistic about the consequences of his guilty pleas and "fully expected" a jail sentence.

Judge Thomas agreed to postpone sentencing until mid-May to allow the couple time to transfer their patients to other practices.

It would also allow time for a probation officer to prepare reports into their backgrounds.

He granted the Johnsons, of New Road, Llanelli, conditional bail, but warned them that all sentencing options remained open, including jail.