Dentist 'hugged and kissed staff'

An Isle of Wight dentist made unwanted advances towards colleagues, hugging and kissing them without their consent, a disciplinary hearing has heard.

Harald Berg worked at the Island Dental Practice, at East Cowes, during 2004 and 2005 but now lives in the US.

He is charged with serious professional misconduct after he allegedly made advances towards two female colleagues.

A General Dental Council (GDC) hearing was told he kissed a woman and removed his trousers in front of another.

The GDC hearing, in London, heard how Mr Berg allegedly removed his trousers during a staff Christmas party in 2004 after wine was spilt on them, before making a request to a woman, known as staff member A, to dry his crotch.

'Pulled away'

The panel was also told he kissed another colleague, known as staff member B, in her treatment room.

David Bradley, for the GDC, told the panel that staff member B had complained to the police after the incident in June 2005.

She told police: "He came into my treatment room. He kissed me on the lips, it wasn't forceful but he was using his tongue. I pulled away. He said 'what, you don't like it?'."

Mr Bradley said Mr Berg, who now lives in Crystal Beach, Florida, told police there had been a kiss between them "in which staff member B was a voluntary participant".

The woman later withdrew her complaint to police, the panel was told.

Mr Bradley said the council alleges that Mr Berg's behaviour was not only improper, unprofessional and unfair to members of staff, but that it was an abuse of his senior position at the practice.

The hearing continues.