GP 'indecently assaulted' women

Dr Hoodbhoy denies 14 charges of indecent assault

A family doctor indecently assaulted female patients by carrying out unnecessary intimate examinations, a court has been told.

Dr Abdullah Hoodbhoy, 58, from Dedham, Essex, also conducted lengthy examinations of patient's breasts and ran his hands inside their legs, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Mr Hoodbhoy denies 14 charges of indecent assault on nine female patients during consultations at the Riverside Health Centre in Manningtree, Essex.

It is alleged the assaults took place between January 1999 and January 2001.

'Own enjoyment'

Sir Derek Spencer QC, prosecuting, said: "He carried out examinations which he pretended were necessary.

"They were not, but were unfortunately done for his own enjoyment and satisfaction."

The alleged victims were aged from their late teens to early 30s.

Four of the women were pregnant and attended the surgery for antenatal care.

Two patients went to the doctor for the morning after pill, two for the contraceptive pill and another due to knee injuries and headaches.

Mr Spencer said the first complaint was made in February 2001, resulting in a police investigation during which more women made allegations against the doctor.

'No explanation'

The court was told that expert prosecution witnesses said many of the examinations were unnecessary.

A 17-year-old attended the surgery for the morning after pill, the court was told.

Mr Spencer said: "He told her to take her trousers down and he stood in front of her and without any explanation he ran his hand up her bare legs one by one.

"That made her feel uncomfortable. He then stated that he would need to examine her breasts for lumps, that he this by, as she described, 'grabbing them in a squeezing motion'."

She said this went on for "minutes".

Mr Spencer said experts stated that this was not necessary for such a patient.

The hearing continues.