An East Lancashire doctor who has been struck off after trying to gain a bonus through deception has apologised for his behaviour.

Dr Andrea Marsico was struck off the register by the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service after being found to have been dishonest.

The hearing heard how the Italian native was considering taking a job at Bedford Hospital whilst working at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

During this time, Dr Marsico had another person send an email to Bedford Hospital and two to healthcare staffing agency Medacs attempting to push for a bonus or better pay, saying Royal Blackburn had offered a similar deal.

The emails spoke about how Medacs had allegedly been ‘pressuring’ Dr Marsico to make a choice on the offer of a job at Bedford Hospital.

The three emails, which were not written by the doctor, said he would refuse to take the job if the bonus was not offered.

Following the sending of these emails, they were then forwarded to the General Medical Council, giving the impression they had been written by Dr Marsico himself.

The Tribunal identified a number of aggravating features in Dr Marsico's dishonesty.

They said: “Dr Marsico tried to cover up his initial misconduct, lying to the Bedford Trust, through sending three misleading emails to his regulator whilst he was under investigation, which were sent on his behalf.

“Dr Marsico involved and blamed others for his dishonesty.

“He gave access to his email box to a third party to allow them to undertake the deceit, on his behalf with his agreement. The dishonest conduct was planned in advance.

“Dr Marsico put his own interests before those of the profession, and demonstrated a persistent lack of insight into the seriousness of his actions or the consequences.”

Counsel for the GMC, Shirlie Duckworth, said the misconduct was not any criticism of Dr Marsico's clinical practice but his dishonesty.

Dr Marsico apologised for his behaviour in a statement provided to the tribunal.

He said: “First of all, I need to apologise deeply, profoundly and with a true and honest heart.

“With the GMC because I have betrayed the trust they gave me granting me the registration.

“With all the people involved in this regrettable situation, including the GMC witnesses.

“With all the good doctors that are currently doing their job in the UK.

“With the United Kingdom, because your country gave me a wonderful opportunity and I wasted it.”

Dr Marsico went on to say he had been 'ignorant’ that what he was doing was ’serious deviation’ from good conduct.

The tribunal, which sat last month, determined that Dr Marsico’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct, and his name was removed from the register.