A DISGRACED osteopath struck off after being convicted of using disabled blue badges belonging to dead relatives is continuing to work.

Nigel Graham was removed from the General Osteopathic Council’s register after it found his fitness to practise “impaired.”

It cited his “conviction for repeated offences involving the avoidance of fixed penalty notices” and his “persistently dishonest use of disabled persons’ blue badges” was incompatible with practice as an osteopath.

He was removed from the register with effect from June 22 2016 by committee members who noted that his behaviour was described as “despicable” when he appeared in court last year.

Since his removal from the register was made public, Mr Graham has contacted the Daily Echo claiming the ruling does not mean he cannot practice, just that he cannot call himself an osteopath.

However, his website for his practice in Miller Gardens, off Chilcombe Road in Southbourne, Dorset, is still entitled “Osteopathy with Nigel Graham.”

A spokeswoman for the General Osteopathic Council told the Echo: “Nigel Graham cannot call himself an osteopath or even imply that he is an osteopath.

“We will write to him about this and will continue to monitor the situation.”

She said there is nothing to stop people going to see Mr Graham if they wish to do so but stressed he can no longer call himself an osteopath.

In July last year Southampton magistrates heard the 55-year-old used his mother’s disabled blue badge in the city 12 years after she had died.

He also admitted trying to avoid fines relating to previous uses of his father-in-law’s blue badge by claiming he was with his disabled relative - investigations revealed he was also dead.