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A pharmacist who has three convictions for drink-driving has been suspended for two months by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Craig Stephan Tibbitts was convicted for the third time in November 2023 after pleading guilty at Telford Magistrates Court to drink-driving after members of the public reported to police what the GPhC’s fitness to practise committee described as his “poor standard of driving” in the previous month.

Having been pulled over and breathalysed, Tibbitts was found to have 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit of 35mcg.

The committee heard that as he was being arrested, he pushed the officers’ hands away, closed his window, locked the doors of his car from the inside and refused to open any of them.

Officers had to smash a window to gain entry and Tibbitts was restrained, handcuffed and taken into custody, where he was tested again and blew 55mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 40 months.

Tibbitts notified the GPhC about the conviction and the committee heard he “completed his community order without issue”.

His first conviction for drink-driving was in 2016 when he drove with 43mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. The GPhC’s investigating committee gave him a warning in February 2017.

In July 2020, Tibbitt was convicted for the second time after driving with 65mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. He was disqualified from driving for three years, reduced to nine months after he completed a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

The GPhC closed its investigation in March 2021 after deciding the case did “not meet the threshold requirement for referral”. Its report said “a voluntary agreement was imposed” for six months but did not publish its terms.

Apologised extensively and acknowledged underlying issues

During the committee's hearing into his third conviction, Tibbitts insisted he had abstained from alcohol since the incident in October 2023.

“He considers that abstaining from alcohol is the most crucial element of his changed behaviour,” the committee said in its report.

It said he had “apologised extensively” and “acknowledged the underlying issues” which led to his drink-driving and shown “insight and remorse into his actions,” but noted “his history is patchy”.

The committee also heard Tibbitts is currently employed four days a week as an advanced clinical practitioner/quality lead and one day a week as a “clinical pharmacist”.

His employer and line manager, who the report refers to as “Ms E”, provided him with a reference in which she said Tibbitts “conducts himself professionally, demonstrates integrity, and is trusted and respected within the organisation”.

“His behaviour since the incident has been consistent and responsible, and he demonstrates appropriate awareness of the standards expected of him as a registered pharmacist and leader,” she told the committee.

However, the committee found Tibbitts breached standard six which says pharmacy professionals “must behave in a professional manner, be trustworthy and act with honesty and integrity”.

Resisting police whilst under the influence of alcohol

The committee identified several aggravating factors, including his “repeated criminal offending, previous regulatory involvement, evidence of significant impairment through intoxication, resisting police whilst under the influence of alcohol, evidence of concern caused to members of the public who reported the incident to the police and risk of harm to the public”.

It also took into account Tibbitt’s “significant remorse, insight and remediation in the form of courses, wider reading and mentorship” and the fact no actual harm was caused.

Suspending him for two months, the committee said his behaviour was not “fundamentally incompatible with remaining on the register” and although he showed “poor decision-making when intoxicated as a result of consuming alcohol, his pharmacy practice is positive”.