Woman is arrested amid police probe into suspected poisoning - after 52-year-old doctor appeared in court accused of trying to murder man in his 70s

• Dr Thomas Kwan, 52, appeared in court yesterday accused of attempted murder
• A woman in her 30s has been arrested in relation to the suspected poisoning 

A woman in her 30s has been arrested amid an ongoing police probe into a suspected poisoning.

Dr Thomas Kwan, 52, appeared in court yesterday accused of trying to kill a man in his 70s after police allegedly found ‘unknown substances’ while searching a property in Ingleby Barwic near Stockton-on-Tees.

The doctor, a married father-of-one was born in Hong Kong and came to the UK 39 years ago as a student, his lawyers said. It is understood his medical practice is in Sunderland.

Dr Kwan was remanded in custody following a short hearing at Newcastle Magistrates Court yesterday. The bespectacled doctor did not enter any pleas and will appear before Newcastle Crown Court on March 6.

Northumbria Police today said a woman has also been arrested in relation to the murder. The force added that she has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

52-year-old GP Thomas Kwan appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of trying to kill his mother’s husband Patrick O’Hara in Newcastle on January 22

A spokesperson said: ‘A woman in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. She has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.’

Yesterday the force said: ‘Following a report of suspected poisoning which was received on Wednesday, January 24, Thomas Kwan, 52, of Brading Court, Ingleby Barwick, has been charged with attempted murder.’

On Tuesday a statement read: ‘As part of an ongoing investigation, an address in the Ingleby Barwick area of Stockton was being searched.

‘This led to the discovery of unknown substances and as a precaution, officers are conducting further checks at the property. There is believed to be no wider risk to the public and enquiries are ongoing.’

Searches of Kwan’s £300,000 detached four-bedroom home on Brading Court began on Monday and on Tuesday the operation involved police, paramedics and firefighters.

Neighbours said that it had been a ‘big shock’ to see the police operation. One local told the Times newspaper: ‘The area is popular with medical people, there are quite a few doctors in this part of Ingleby but he isn’t someone who mixes with the neighbours.’

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