A DENTIST accused of conning the NHS out of thousands of pounds by claiming for work he had never done was cleared yesterday.
David Ratliff, 54, was charged with claiming for gold fillings and expensive crowns, when he used standard materials.
As part of the inquiry, 32 patients' teeth were checked to find out whether Mr Ratliff had carried out the work he had claimed for.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that the inquiries began in October 1995, when he owned the South View dental practice, in West Denton, Newcastle.
The court heard claims that he had used a sophisticated national computer system to claim for work he never carried out.
Mr Ratliff, who had been a dentist for 29 years, lives in Montague Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle.
He denied 19 charges of false accountancy relating to 17 patients.
Yesterday, he broke down and wept when the jury of nine men and three women delivered their unanimous not guilty verdicts after three hours deliberation
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