Doctor sacked over sex assaults

Vinall worked at hospitals and clinics in Yorkshire

A doctor convicted of indecently assaulting two of his patients has been sacked by hospital bosses.

Paul Vinall, 55, was dismissed as a consultant at Leeds General Infirmary following a disciplinary hearing.

He was sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he was found guilty on 8 March of indecently assaulting two of his patients.

A hospital spokesman said: "In the light of his criminal convictions, Paul Vinall has been summarily dismissed from his post as a consultant with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Position abused

"Mr Vinall has the right of appeal against the decision which was taken at a disciplinary hearing on 3 April."

At the end of his trial, father-of-three Vinall was told by the judge, Mr Justice Crane, that his career had ended in "humiliation and shame".

The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, who worked at various hospitals and private clinics in Yorkshire, had denied 31 counts of indecent assault on 22 patients between 1981 and 2000.

The jury at Sheffield Crown Court, which deliberated for 40 hours over nine days, acquitted him of three other charges.

A further 26 were ordered to remain on file.

Struck off

During the six-week trial the court heard a series of allegations that Vinall abused his position to touch women inappropriately under the pretext of necessary examinations.

The two assaults for which the jury convicted him - one unanimously and the other by a majority verdict - related to examinations which took place at his private consulting rooms in Headingley, Leeds.

The court was told that, following his convictions, Vinall, from Leeds, would be automatically struck off the medical register by the General Medical Council for a minimum of five years.