A BRITISH pharmacist is facing the prospect of losing her job, after posing as the mother of an 11-month-old boy so he could be circumcised, without the child's parents' consent.
The boy had been left in the care of Martina Obi-Uzom, 70, for a weekend in Sep 2017, when she sought to engage the services of a mohel, who carried out the procedure, believing she was the mother, having signed a parent consent form.
The pharmacist was acquitted of causing "wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm", but convicted of "unlawful wounding" at the Inner London Crown Court.
Judge, Freya Newbery, issued a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, noting there was a "vanishingly small risk of re-offending".
She was ordered to pay 1500 in prosecution costs and a 140 court fee.
The court heard Obi-Uzom had lived an "upstanding life" and contributed to the community, building her pharmacy business in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, since moving to the UK from Nigeria, however the judge said she had committed a "massive violation".
Prosecutor, Louis Mably, told the court that the boy had suffered an "irreversible and lifelong injury" as a result of the circumcision.
Obi-Uzom now faces the prospect of professional disciplinary action following her conviction.
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