A TOP consultant psychiatrist from Avening has been jailed after being convicted of supplying a Class A drug.

Dr Ovais Badat supplied cocaine and made false prescriptions while working at the Hengrove-based adult ADHD service of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Badat, 42, a father-of-two who lived in Avening, denied the charges, but after a week-long trial at Bristol Crown Court, the 41-year-old was convicted of supplying cocaine, making articles for use in frauds, fraud and possessing Class B drug Ketamine.

Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for two-and-a-half years.

The judge told Badat: “This case is aggravated by you taking advantage both of a woman’s vulnerability and your status as a medical professional.”

Kerry Barker, prosecuting, told the jury that Badat met ADHD patient Laura Lister through a friend, and she offered to do administrative work for him.

The court heard that in January 2015, Badat took Miss Lister to a hotel room under the pretence of work. They drank champagne and took cocaine provided by Badat.

The court heard that Miss Lister said she could not take the cocaine because she developed an allergic reaction to it, having been a drug user. But Badat assured her she could not be allergic to pure cocaine.

The jury heard that Miss Lister was ill and hungover in the morning and Badat gave her a wrap of cocaine and some blue ADHD pills before taking her home.

After she relapsed into drug use, she became concerned about Badat’s behaviour that night. After Miss Lister was contacted by a manager at the ADHD service clinic, she told them what happened.

A police investigation established that Badat had acquired drugs by writing fake prescriptions in the name of “Ebrahim Fulat”.

It was discovered Badat was a regular cocaine user who took it in a friend’s presence, the court heard.

Stuart Stevens, defending said: “There’s a lot of good in this man despite his failings.

“It’s been a strain on him. He’s been living off past earnings and savings. He’s lost his career, he’s been suspended.

“He still has to go before the GMC (General Medical Council).

“He will have to find some other form of gainful employment.”

Detective Inspector Simon Brickwood told the Bristol Post: “He (Badat) is a predatory drug addict who supplied cocaine to a vulnerable woman and made out false prescriptions which he used to illegally obtain medication from a pharmacy in Hengrove.

“His actions were wholly dishonest and a significant breach of trust.

“He underestimated the strength and determination of those around him and I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who supported our investigation.

“He had a position of high standing within his field and this added weight to the intimidation witnesses felt."