GP on trial over allegations of sexual abuse of patients

A GP is accused of indecently assaulting seven women, some of whom were pregnant, for "sexual gratification", a court has heard.

Stephen Cox, 64, denies 16 counts of indecent assault against seven women while he practised as a GP in Bracknell, Berkshire, between 1988 and 1997.

The prosecution told his trial at Reading Crown Court he had attacked the women on the pretext of carrying out routine medical examinations which were not medically justified.

The allegations include;

1. That he touched patients' breasts
2. Pressed his erect penis into two women
3. Digitally penetrated women’s vaginas
4. A claim by one woman that he pushed her against her kitchen cupboards and grabbed her throat during a home visit.

Nine of the allegations were made by one former patient.

Prosecutor Tahir Khan said Dr Cox, from Marton in Shropshire, was "motivated by sexual pleasure by the deliberate touching of certain areas of the body".

Addressing the jury, he said the evidence would raise questions for them, including: "What are the chances of an upstanding and professional man of medicine being targeted by seven different women and being accused of very similar or identical physical activity?

"Why would seven women want to make false allegations against a general practitioner in that way?"

Judge Sarah Campbell told the jury the case was a retrial but ordered them not to look into the details of the previous hearing.

The trial continues.

Opinion

This is the latest case involving allegations of serious malpractice against a medical professional in the conduct of their duties. 

Recent high profile cases of a similar nature include that of former GP, Manish Shah, who was convicted of a catalogue of sexual assaults at his practice in Romford, East London and for which he is now serving five life sentences.

It is testament to the survivors of such heinous crimes that they have made the difficult decision to come forward and disclose their experiences against someone in such a high position of trust and authority, not only to receive justice for themselves but also to prevent these crimes from continuing to happen and protecting others against people such as Shah.