Longer sentence for GP

Dr Carman came to Britain from Australia in 1983

A Somerset GP jailed for indecently assaulting patients has had his "unduly lenient" sentence extended.

Dr Philip Carman, 50, from Weston-super-Mare, was jailed for a year in September 2003 after being found guilty of nine assaults over 18 years.

Six of the convictions were later quashed after they were ruled unsafe because of a misdirection by a judge.

But on Wednesday the Appeal Court said Carman's sentence was too short and he should serve an extra six months.

Career over

Lord Justice Kay, sitting with Mr Justice Field, said doctors who committed such offences were guilty of a "huge breach of trust" and sentencing judges should aim at prison terms in the region of three years.

But Carman had suffered a serious and permanent arm injury since committing the offences, and the court took this, and the fact that the other convictions had been quashed, into account.

The judges heard Carman was of previous good character and well-regarded by his partners and other patients. His medical career was now over.

The offences were alleged to have taken place at the Stafford Place surgery in the town where Dr Carman, who came to Britain from Australia in 1983, was a partner.