GP 'touched up patients'

Dr Cowie denies the indecent assault charges

A GP fondled one woman's breasts, rubbed another's genitals and lifted a third patient's bra during routine examinations, a court heard on Tuesday.

Patients complained about Dr Ian Cowie after incidents at his surgeries in Batley and Chickenley, West Yorkshire, between 1994 and 2002, a jury was told.

The doctor rubbed a student's breast "in a caressing manner as she thought a boyfriend would do" when he was examining her after she complained of stomach pains, prosecuting barrister Paul Worsley told Leeds Crown Court.

Dr Cowie, of High Street, Hanging Heaton, West Yorkshire denies five counts of indecent assault.

The student said she felt "humiliated, disgusted and violated", Mr Worsley said.

Another woman, a store assistant, said the GP sexually assaulted her while examining her genital area, which had been inflamed by a product she used to scour her bath, according to Mr Worsley.

He said another woman complained that when she went to see Dr Cowie about a stomach pain, he pushed his hands between her legs.

Patient sobbed

She left the surgery, saying to reception staff "I don't appreciate being touched up", before breaking down and sobbing for 45 minutes.

Dr Cowie, who was a partner in a practice with surgeries at The Medical Centre, Chickenley, and Grove House Surgery, Batley, had a long-standing drink problem, Mr Worsley said.

He said: "Around 2001, Dr Cowie took three months leave of absence.

"The problem was such that on many days he smelt of drink... and on occasions he was unfit to see patients."

One of the complainants said the doctor had smelt of whisky, the prosecutor said.

Mr Worsley added: "This defendant used his position as a GP to carry out indecent assaults on some of his female patients, no doubt for his own sexual gratification."

Dr Cowie, 50, of High Street, Hanging Heaton, West Yorkshire, sat in the dock wearing a blue pinstriped suit and glasses.

The case continues.