Liverpool nurse struck off over drug boss boyfriend she met in prison

Former Broadgreen Hospital nurse Georgia Harkness has been struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council

A nurse who was convicted of using money from her drug dealing boyfriend to fund a lavish lifestyle has been struck off from the profession.

Georgia Harkness, 27, of Liverpool, began a relationship with Ashley Blackett after meeting him in prison.

Harkness splashed out on designer clothes and jewellery and drove an Audi A5 on the proceeds of his crimes.

The former Broadgreen Hospital nurse has been banned from working in the medical sector.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise hearing was told Harkness, the daughter of former Liverpool footballer Steve Harkness, had helped Blackett continue to run his criminal empire while he was in prison.

Manchester Crown Court was told last March how he arranged for money to be sent to her so she could enjoy a "lavish lifestyle".

The former Broadgreen Hospital nurse tried to hide the extent of her involvement by refusing to tell police her phone's PIN, but they eventually cracked the device and discovered incriminating material.

Harkness avoided jail after a judge said she had no previous convictions and was sentenced to two years, suspended for 24 months, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She will not be allowed to return to her career as a nurse, following the sanction from the NMC.

'Public confidence'

Documents released from the session said the former nurse, from St Helens, had been informed of proceedings in January but the panel were told she "does not want to attend anything to do with this case".

In August 2020, the NMC received a self-referral from Harkness following her arrest.

A referral was also received from Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Trust where she was employed.

Passing down sentence, Judge Nicholas Dean KC said he had hoped Harkness would be able to return to her career as a "good and conscientious nurse" after rehabilitation as it was clear she loved her job.

However, the NMC found it was necessary to ban her from the profession, as the panel had received no evidence that she no longer posed a risk to patient safety.

The document said: "The panel considered there to be high public interest in the circumstances of this case.

"The panel found that the charges found proved are serious.

"It was of the view that a fully-informed member of the public would be concerned by its findings on facts.

"The panel concluded that public confidence in the nursing profession would be undermined if a finding of impairment was not made in this case."