A VETERINARY nurse from Rhu who deliberately poisoned her pet dog has been struck off the register.

Former Hermitage Academy pupil Georgina Bretman, 28, was found guilty at a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court in August 2017 of causing her two-year-old cocker spaniel Florence unnecessary pain and suffering after injecting it with insulin.

Miss Bretman's actions in 2013 caused the black and white pooch to suffer from hypoglycaemia, convulsions and seizures, for which it needed immediate treatment to avoid coma and death.

Following her conviction, Miss Bretman, who worked at private clinic Pets A&E in Glasgow, was sentenced to a Community Payback Order, with a requirement to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work. An order was also made to take Florence away from her and to ban her from owning a dog for two years.

READ MORE: Rhu vet nurse "showed no remorse" for poisoning pet dog

At a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) disciplinary committee hearing last week, it was decided that she was unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse and her name should be removed from the register.

A report of the decision states: "The conduct underlying this conviction involved Miss Bretman deliberately administering a poisonous substance to a companion animal, for which she had sole responsibility, causing, what was described by the court as, “considerable pain and suffering”, and seriously risking that animal’s death.

"The committee considered this to be very serious and deplorable conduct on the part of a veterinary nurse, a member of a profession specifically entrusted to look after and care for animals."

At the trial in 2017, the sheriff sentencing Miss Bretman said that she had "expressed no remorse" for her actions and her “motivation to cause [Florence] this suffering may never be known, you have chosen not to shed any light on that when you spoke to a social worker".

The disciplinary hearing report adds: "Miss Bretman’s offence was particularly grave in the context of someone who works as a veterinary nurse.

READ MORE: Duchess Wood conduct code planned for Helensburgh dog-walkers

"Of significant concern was her continued denial of the conduct which led to the conviction and thus her complete lack of insight into her offending behaviour.

"Without being able to understand her motivation for administering insulin to her dog, the committee considered there to be a risk that she could repeat the behaviour.

"The committee determined that it was important that a clear message be sent that this sort of behaviour is wholly inappropriate and not to be tolerated.

"It brought discredit upon Miss Bretman and discredit upon the profession."

The disciplinary committee noted the impact the decision would likely have on Miss Bretman, recognising that this was "unfortunate given her young age and her obvious passion for a career as a veterinary nurse".

Read all the latest headlines from Helensburgh and Lomond here