Retired Birmingham GP suspended after Ledbury animal rights demo

A retired GP who faced court action after she took part in climate change and animal rights protests has had a fresh suspension of her medical licence.

Dr Sarah Benn, who worked in Birmingham, was first suspended at a tribunal in 2024 after she took part in a demonstration at a Warwickshire oil terminal, in 2022.

Following an animal rights protest in Ledbury in 2023, she was referred for a second hearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) this year.

The second tribunal ruled her fitness to practise was impaired and she had shown a “sustained pattern of unlawful behaviour”.

The first tribunal suspended her for five months and a second tribunal on Wednesday suspended her for 12 months.

The General Medical Council told the tribunal Dr Benn lacked insight, minimised the seriousness of her misconduct and used her position to bring additional attention to climate change.

But Dr Benn said the case centred on the expectation that a doctor should uphold the law, and she said the exceptional circumstances of the climate emergency had compelled her to break the law.

She said her criminal act had posed no risk to others, did not affect her ability to practise and was not dishonest, aggressive or deceitful, but was “motivated by conscience and a desire to make the world a kinder place”.

Papers documented how Dr Benn spent 32 years in clinical practice and retired in 2022 when she surrendered her licence, but remained on the medical register.

Dr Benn took part in climate change peaceful protests in 2022 at Kingsbury Oil Terminal in Warwickshire.

After she was found in breach of the injunction and contempt of court, she was sent to prison for 32 days.

In February 2023, Dr Benn was arrested for criminal damage after she chalk-sprayed gates and a wall at Sequani Ltd in Ledbury, a company involved in animal testing.

Tribunal papers said Dr Benn pleaded guilty to criminal damage before magistrates in September 2023, but appealed against the sentence at Worcester Crown Court.

In April 2024, the crown court allowed the appeal and sentenced Dr Benn to a community order for 12 months with a requirement not to enter Sequani Ltd or go near it, and placed restrictions on her access to spray paint.