Sex grope doctor jailed

GP Ian Cowie indecently assaulted three female patients

A judge has told a family doctor his patients should not be treated as "sexual playthings" after he indecently assaulting three women in his surgery.

Doctor Ian Cowie, 50, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the assaults.

Cowie, of High Street, Hanging Heaton, West Yorkshire, was found guilty of three offences of indecent assault after a four-week trial earlier this year.

He was cleared of a further two counts.

The jury had heard in one incident he fondled an 18-year-old student's breast.

The GP exposed another woman's breasts who had gone to his surgery complaining of abdominal pains.

In a third incident Cowie groped a patient's breast under her T-shirt but over her bra.

On Monday, Judge Shaun Spencer told Cowie: "The offences were committed by a doctor and they were committed in breach of trust.

"Patients are entitled to feel that they may safely attend surgery in order to be treated and as patients they will be professionally examined and not made sexual playthings of".

The court was told that Cowie, who was a partner in a practice which had surgeries at The Medical Centre, Chickenley, and Grove House Surgery, Batley, had a long-standing drink problem.

William Coker, QC, for Cowie told the judge he feared Cowie "would drink himself to an early grave" if his alcoholism was not treated and he was not properly supported.

Mr Coker said his client did not accept his guilt and added that through the convictions had "effectively thrown away all he had worked for".

"Personally and professionally these convictions mean ruin".

Cowie was placed on the Sex Offender's Register for 10 years and ordered to pay £20,000 towards prosecution costs.