ALCOHOLIC York vet William Sim faces being kicked out of the profession after turning up at work drunk and hurling abuse at animal owners.

A hearing of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) heard the 55-year-old, who ran a practice in Strensall Road, Earswick, turned to drink in 2003 after the death of his wife.

His brother Alan, also a vet, first voiced concern about his health later that year after Sim conducted a job interview while drunk.

The hearing was told that Sim, of Lockhouse Lane, slurred his words, swayed on his feet, reeked of alcohol and was rude to customers at the practice.

He also gave a woman tablets with no label on them for her pet and prescribed medication for one animal without even seeing it.

But his barrister, John Corless, said no "substantial harm" had been caused to animals he cared for and he is working to overcome his alcohol dependence.

The Scot, a vet for 32 years who had worked for the Department of the Environment, admitted disgraceful conduct and has been told to stop practising until a second hearing in November.

The hearing was told that Sim began drinking heavily in late 2003 after the death of his wife who had helped him run the business. He ordered one client to get out of his surgery and reduced a dog owner to tears by calling her a "complete idiot."

Speaking about the job interview, Nicole Curtis, for the RCVS, said: "Mr Sim arrived late and drunk."

Sim was sent on a five-week rehabilitation course but a few months later he again turned up for work smelling of alcohol.

In autumn last year his drinking got worse and in November he was stopped while driving his Land Rover in Derby and police found he was almost four times over the drink-drive limit.

On June 6 he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment after admitting his November drink-driving offence, and was banned from driving for three years.

Sim was released from North Sea Camp prison in Boston, Lincolnshire, after serving a month and went straight back to his surgery where a colleague claimed he still smelled of alcohol.

But Sim told the disciplinary hearing that he had not been drinking.

Mr Corless told the hearing: "Unfortunately the problem stems from his alcohol dependency. Within his personal life he has suffered tragedy.

"None of this excuses his conduct but fortunately the conduct does not show there has been substantial harm to animals he has treated. He seeks to overcome this dependence problem.

The committee agreed to defer its decision until November after Sim confirmed he would stay off alcohol, take part in future treatment, have blood tests and co-operate with two more reports on his recovery.

Sim admitted his conviction rendered him unfit to practice veterinary surgery. He also admitted disgraceful conduct by being under the influence of alcohol on eight occasions when carrying out his duties as a vet.

Updated: 10:23 Tuesday, July 19, 2005