Tribunal Ruling on Nursing Registration
A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal has ruled that an Instagram influencer, Levi Whalley, will not be struck off the professional register despite a criminal conviction for drug smuggling. Whalley, 32, was arrested at Birmingham Airport in December 2023 after being found in possession of 19kg of cannabis concealed within her luggage.
The tribunal heard that the total seizure involving Whalley and a companion amounted to over 35kg of the Class B drug, with an estimated street value of £160,000. Following her arrest by West Midlands Police, Whalley was convicted of drug smuggling at Blackburn Magistrates Court in February 2025 and subsequently received a 16-month suspended prison sentence at Preston Crown Court in April 2025.
Professional Consequences
While the NMC panel acknowledged that a drug-related conviction is "extremely serious," they determined that a striking-off order would be "unduly punitive" given the specific circumstances of the case. The panel noted that Whalley was experiencing significant personal difficulties at the time of the offence, which she claimed involved coercion through threats against her family.
Whalley, who has not practised as a nurse since December 2023, has been issued a 12-month suspension. The panel concluded that this measure was appropriate to mark the gravity of the conviction while allowing for the possibility of her return to the profession after demonstrating personal growth and insight.
Source: The Independent
