In a case that has captured public attention for its bizarre and chilling details, a British general practitioner, Thomas Kwan, recently pleaded guilty to attempting to kill his mother’s long-term partner, Patrick O’Hara, through a calculated plan involving forged documents, a nurse’s disguise, and a fake COVID-19 vaccine. This shocking crime, motivated by a family inheritance dispute, led to Kwan’s elaborate scheme and has had severe, life-threatening consequences for O’Hara.
The events unfolded on January 22, 2024, when Kwan, a Sunderland-based doctor, arrived at O’Hara’s residence in Newcastle, posing as a community health nurse named “Raj Patel.” Kwan’s mother, Jenny Leung, had been with O’Hara for over two decades and had specified in her will that O’Hara could inherit her home if he outlived her, a decision that sparked animosity between Kwan and his mother’s partner. Determined to alter the will’s implications, Kwan plotted a meticulous plan to remove O’Hara from his mother’s life—and her will.
Kwan began his scheme months prior by forging a letter to O’Hara, inviting him to receive an at-home COVID-19 booster shot administered by a community nurse. In reality, this fictitious nurse, “Raj Patel,” was Kwan himself, who had transformed his appearance with a dark wig, beard, surgical mask, and tinted glasses. When Kwan arrived at the house, he administered an injection filled with a toxic substance that soon caused O’Hara to develop necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacterial infection that quickly turned life-threatening.
The choice of poison remains a subject of investigation. Initially, authorities suspected that Kwan had used ricin, a deadly poison, due to his extensive research into toxins. During a search of his home, police uncovered a trove of lethal chemicals, including arsenic, mercury, and castor beans—key ingredients in ricin production . While investigators now believe Kwan may have used a pesticide instead, they remain uncertain of the exact substance injected.
In the hours following the injection, O’Hara’s arm began to blister and turn a dark, disturbing color. Despite intense pain, O’Hara initially believed Kwan’s reassurances that such reactions were common with vaccines. But as the symptoms rapidly escalated, he sought emergency medical attention. His infection had progressed to the point where extensive surgical procedures were required to remove the diseased flesh, and he spent several weeks in intensive care fighting to survive .
Throughout the investigation, additional disturbing details emerged. Prosecutors discovered that Kwan had gone to great lengths to make his scheme appear legitimate. He booked a hotel under a false name, traveled with a vehicle bearing fake license plates, and used spyware to monitor his mother’s financial activities. Kwan even went as far as to speak in a feigned accent and “broken English” while interacting with his victims, further concealing his true identity during the encounter .
The motive for this crime, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, was money. Kwan viewed his mother’s will as a barrier to his inheritance and saw O’Hara as an obstacle. The prosecution argued that Kwan’s actions were coldly calculated and executed with a chilling level of detail and planning. Prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC stated, “Mr. O’Hara had done absolutely nothing to offend Mr. Kwan…He was, however, a potential impediment to Mr. Kwan inheriting his mother’s estate upon her death” .
Kwan’s mother had previously reported conflicts with her son over her relationship with O’Hara, leading to several police interventions. In November 2022, Kwan had even burst into his mother’s home uninvited, further straining their relationship. Friends and family describe Kwan as increasingly “obsessed” with his mother’s estate, an obsession that ultimately led him to the depths of attempted murder.
As the case awaits sentencing, Kwan’s lawyers have acknowledged the inevitable custodial sentence, while Kwan himself admitted to intending only to cause “mild pain,” a claim vehemently disputed by the prosecution and medical evidence. The judge presiding over the case, Mrs. Justice Lambert, has stated that Kwan faces a “substantial custodial term.” Meanwhile, O’Hara continues his recovery, though the physical and psychological scars of the attack are likely to linger for a lifetime.
This case serves as a disturbing reminder of the lengths some may go to for financial gain, with Kwan’s actions not only breaching medical ethics but leaving lasting trauma for the victims involved. The full extent of his sentence will be decided following a further assessment by the Probation Service, but the ramifications of his actions will likely impact his life—and those around him—for years to come.
