48-year-old Syed Ashraf Jameel of West Hampstead was found guilty of four counts of obtaining property by deception, five counts of obtaining money transfers by deception and one count of attempting to obtain property by deception.

Purporting to be both a qualified doctor and registered with the General Medical Council, Jameel worked out of The Harley Street Wellman Clinic and had many patients who paid a considerable amount for treatment.

He claimed to have qualified as a doctor in Pakistan in 1978, carrying out surgery and specialising in cardiology. He told officers that he moved to Norway to continue work in 1987, before coming to the UK in 2002 to continue his interest in alternative medicine. During the investigation, evidence was found to suggest that he was not a genuine doctor at all.

He was convicted of deception relating to the treatment of the patients and also for obtaining prescription only drugs.  Jameel also led a qualified dentist to believe that he had obtained a contract with the Bahrain Embassy to treat Bahrain nationals, and that for £10,000 he could ensure that all dentistry work would be passed to him. Upon parting with the money, it transpires that the contract did not exist.

The police investigation was launched following an allegation of deception and Jameel was arrested in May 2004.

Detective Constable David Baker, Economic and Specialist Crime command, said:

"By working in a clinic specialising in men's health, Jameel was able to target vulnerable individuals who had sought treatment from him in the believe that he was both a qualified and registered doctor. This conviction should act as a deterrent to those who seek to provide medical treatment which they are not lawfully able to provide."