A doctor who forged prescriptions for Viagra because he was too embarrassed to see his GP has been struck off.

Dr Mansoor Kassim, 37, was given a suspended sentence in January after he admitted theft, fraud and forgery over the scam to obtain the drug, for erectile dysfunction, while working at a hospital in Wales.

He was given a post at the Maidstone Hospital in February with his employers fully aware of the conditions applied on his registration by the General Medical Council.

But on Friday he was removed from the General Medical Council’s register after a two-day hearing in Manchester, meaning he will no longer be able to practice in the UK.

He told a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel that he had made a “stupid mistake” and described the episode as a one-off.

Kassim explained he had stolen the prescription pads to treat a medical condition of which he was too embarrassed to consult a GP.

But the panel criticised him for trying to “minimise” the gravity of his behaviour and told Kassim, who was born in India, his background was no excuse.

The thefts, which continued for eight months, came to light after prescription forms were found to be coming from the trauma and orthopaedic department.

MPTS panel chairman Prof Michael Whitehouse told him: “The panel considered that the premeditated, opportunistic and prolonged nature of your offences does amount to behaviour fundamentally incompatible with being a doctor.

“You abused your position of trust at the earliest opportunity by stealing prescription forms a day after beginning your role.”

Kassim admitted four charges of making a false prescription, two of theft by an employee and one of fraud at Newport Magistrates’ Court in January.

The medic, from Ilford, Essex, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, ordered to pay compensation of £347 for the Viagra and £2,561 for the NHS investigation.