Former Boots pharmacist Fateh Kumar Patel, registration number 2023838, has been suspended from the professional register for a year after flashing his teenage neighbours.

Mr Patel appeared naked at his window and touched himself inappropriately in full view of his neighbours on an almost daily basis over two years, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) heard at a fitness-to-practise hearing on December 14.

Mr Patel, who had worked at Boots for more than 30 years, resigned from his post as relief pharmacist in 2009 and was convicted of the offences a year later, when he was given a community order and put on the sex offenders register for five years.

The GPhC said the offences were very serious, but stressed that Mr Patel had showed profound insight into and remorse over his actions	More fitness-to-practise cases Pharmacist struck off for stealing drugs to cope       with depression Former Boots manager struck off for 'repeated,      opportunistic' theft Pharmacist struck off for 'systematic' theft
	The GPhC said the offences were a very serious matter but stressed that Mr Patel had showed profound insight and remorse into his actions and ruled to suspend him for 12 months with a review at the end of the period.

Mr Patel first exposed himself to his neighbours – two of whom were 14 and 15 years old – in 2007, when he appeared naked and masturbated at the window of his home. It occurred on a weekly basis until the neighbour reported him to the police in early 2009, but no investigation or action was taken until later that year, the panel heard.

The incidents started to become more frequent, happening on an almost daily basis, and on one occasion Mr Patel held up a sign saying "I like your pretty panties" to one of his neighbours. The neighbour said her home environment had been totally destroyed, the panel heard.

When arrested in July 2009, Mr Patel reported the police investigation to the pharmacy regulator.

And since his conviction Mr Patel had been highly committed to completing the community sex offender group programme, according to his probation officer. Mr Patel was experiencing difficulties in his marriage at the time, had an extreme sense of guilt and shame and was at low risk of reoffending, the panel heard.

The offences had originated from untreated psychosexual problems, the panel also heard.

The GPhC concluded that Mr Patel had behaved impeccably in his professional life and had done all that he could possibly do to rehabilitate himself, showing complete, profound remorse for his actions. It ruled that removal from the register would be disproportionate, and suspended Mr Patel for a year with a review at the end of the period.

Read the full fitness-to-practise case here.