A director of a vet's practice in Maidstone has been prosecuted for allowing an employee to X-ray her own foot after a horse stamped on it.

Maidstone Magistrates Court heard that 25-year-old vet and equine intern Gemma Blackmur, who works for Pet Emergency Treatment Services Ltd in Bearsted Road, was afraid the bone was broken and that she might be unable to do that evening’s on-call duty.

After calling practice director, John Kenward, he suggested she use the veterinary surgery's own X-ray kit, as they were both concerned she could be held up in hospital A&E.

The 55-year-old, of Jubilee Corner in Ulcombe, gave her the settings to use and she carried out the test, which showed no break so she continued to work as normal.

The use, which was a breach of radiation regulations, only came to light when another director, Martin Smith, noticed a human image among the scans of animals.

But when he told practice board members of his intention to interview staff about the incident Mr Kenward immediately admitted it was him who had advised the intern to use the machine.

The Health and Safety Executive was contacted and began an investigation.

Although the intern was the only person present during the X-ray, she did not wear a personal dosemeter - a device which measures the potentially harmful radiation exposure during the procedure.

However, HSE told the court that Mr Kenward was fully aware that the rules of the practice clearly stated nobody should be placed within the beam of the X-ray machine.

But Stephen Barnfield,defending, said it was an isolated incident and that in his 33 year career Mr Kenward had never breached any regulations.

He said: "The actual harm caused was nil. The only person who will suffer is him and the only harm done will be the harm done today in this courtroom."

Mr Barnfield said the conviction would mean Mr Barnfield's career would be in jeopardy and that he could face being struck off.

Mr Kenward pleaded guilty to the breach of the Health and Saftey at Work Act and was given a conditional discharge at yesterday's hearing. He was also ordered to pay £1,296 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Rob Hassell said: “Any vet practice using ionising radiation for medical exposures must ensure that the X-ray equipment is properly maintained and that the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations are complied with.

"X-rays must not be taken of human beings at practices. We are aware that the X-raying of people may not be unique to this particular practice so I hope others will take note that HSE is prepared to prosecute if such breaches come to light.”

The veterinary practice declined to comment.