In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Dr Hafeez Awan, 44, a family doctor who worked in Leeds and Wakefield, was suspended from the medical register following a police sting. Appearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), the defendant—who used the online alias Medic333—was found to have engaged in sexually motivated misconduct. It was reported that Awan exchanged “inappropriate” messages with an undercover police detective he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
The investigation established that Awan’s online grooming attempts took place over 16 days in January 2016. South Yorkshire Police reported that even after being told the girl was a schoolchild, Awan continued to ask personal questions, requested her phone number to “hear her voice,” and sent “mwah” hug emojis. The prosecution reported that during the tribunal, Awan provided a “ludicrous” and “absurd” defence, claiming he knew the girl was an impostor and was trying to “expose” her, a claim the panel robustly rejected.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Awan’s conduct was a “serious and deplorable” breach of the position of trust inherent in the medical profession. Sheffield High Court later heard an appeal by the General Medical Council (GMC), which argued that Awan should have been struck off rather than merely suspended. The investigation established that although his defence was described by the judge as “dogged yet ridiculous,” the original nine-month suspension was upheld as sufficient to protect the public interest.
Mr Justice Mostyn ruled that while Awan’s explanations were “implausible,” a professional has the right to advance a defence without facing “enhanced sanctions” solely for the denial of wrongdoing. For his actions in West Yorkshire, Awan was also investigated by Canadian authorities, as he had emigrated to Saint John, New Brunswick, in 2017. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick matched the UK’s nine-month suspension, effective from late 2019, temporarily closing his practice at the Atlantic Superstore complex.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in England and Canada, the status of Dr Hafeez Awan as of late 2019 was as follows:
- UK Sanction: 9-month suspension (Ordered November 2019).
- Canadian Sanction: 9-month suspension (Ordered November 2019).
- Medical Register Status: Suspended in the UK and New Brunswick.
- Judicial Oversight: Tribunal held by the MPTS following a South Yorkshire Police sting.
- Username: Medic333.
- Origin: Leeds and Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Relocated to New Brunswick, Canada).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Awan is currently subject to monitoring by both the GMC in the UK and the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada. Due to the nature of his conduct in Leeds, which involved the persistent grooming of a supposed minor, his fitness to practise remains under regular review. Authorities state that while the risk of repetition was deemed “low,” Awan is required to demonstrate significant insight and remediation before he can return to unrestricted medical practice.
As a registered professional, Awan’s disciplinary history is permanently logged on the global medical practitioners’ database. Authorities state that his history of seeking “escapism” through inappropriate online chats in West Yorkshire requires permanent vigilance to ensure professional boundaries are maintained. Any future attempt to contact minors or engage in sexually motivated online behaviour will result in a permanent strike-off from the medical register to ensure the ongoing safety of patients and the community.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.