'I trust him': Wife of poison plot doc vows to wait for hubby despite 31-year sentence

The wife of GP Thomas Kwan - sentenced to 31 years for attempted murder - has declared lasting support for her husband.

Despite Kwan, 53, facing over two decades behind bars before he can be considered for parole, his wife has asserted her unwavering intention to await his release, having maintained a 14-year relationship with him.

Disguised as a community nurse, the once-trusted Sunderland GP, from Ingleby Barwick, delivered a toxic dose of iodomethane to his mother's partner by falsifying a Covid vaccine visit utilising fake NHS documents. In an interview with the Mirror, his spouse voiced her disbelief in his lethal intent: "I don't believe he intended to kill him."

READ MORE:'Extremely disappointed' care provider told it 'requires improvement' by watchdog

READ MORE:Yob packed 'riot kit' of fishing wire, firelighters, ball bearings and goggles

The victim, Patrick O'Hara, 72, endures ongoing post-traumatic stress from the frightening experience.

Kwan travelled from his Teesside home to his mother Jenny Leung's Newcastle city centre residence on January 22. He administered the poison to Patrick after arranging a Covid vaccine appointment using counterfeit NHS letterheads.

Kwan's wife, who did not wish to be identified, said: "I really cannot find a man to compare to Tom, in his heart he is very, very good. I don't blame him – I love him, trust him, and will be here for him until the end. I am going to be buried alongside him.

"Our son goes with me to prison to see Tom. I tell him everything and I hope he will understand his dad."

Kwan changed his plea to guilty on October 7, after his trial at Newcastle Crown Court had begun. His wife revealed he had been attacked while on remand in jail, adding: "He decided that he wanted to get all this over with."

In the courtroom on Wednesday this week, Mrs Justice Christina Lambert handed down a sentence to Kwan, stating that she firmly believed his motive was monetary gain. The high-earning GP's mother had made a new will allowing Patrick to reside in her Newcastle home in the event of her death, consequently postponing Kwan's inheritance.

Kwan's wife recounted a change in her husband's behaviour just before the Christmas period of the previous year when he orchestrated the murder attempt. She revealed: "He was very nervous, he was sweating at night. He was not sociable, he liked to work but he did not have any social life, he is a very private man. Our married life was very, very happy, he was a very good doctor. I think he had a mental illness but as a GP, he did not want to book an appointment to seek help."

She expressed her resolve to remain with her spouse despite cutting off contact with his mother. His wife further disclosed Kwan's experiences of bullying in school, stating: "He felt very lonely and helpless. I feel so sorry for Tom, that is why I will wait for him and give him a good life in the end. If I leave him, his life will be too sad, I cannot do that to him."

For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter