Indian origin doctor gets 2 more life sentences in UK for 115 sexual offences

London: A 53-year-old Indian Origin doctor found guilty of 115 sexual offences against 28 women and minor girls has been sentenced to two more life sentences with a minimum term of 10 years to run concurrently by Old Bailey Court on Monday. The court described him as a "danger to women" and a “master of deception” while delivering the verdict. 

Earlier, in February 2020, he was handed three life sentences with a minimum term of 15 years in prison for 90 offences against 24 women after two separate trials. However, In December last year, he was convicted of 25 more counts of sexual offences against four more women and girls. Therefore, he is now convicted of 115 offences of sexual assault against 28 women and teenagers aged between 15 and 34.

The court heard that over a four-year period from 2009 to July 2013, he took advantage of his position of trust as a Medical General Practitioner in Romford to persuade women to have invasive examinations when there was no medical need for them, doing this for his sexual gratification.

Each victim reported a similar pattern of behaviour against him. Explaining that he seemed to be a good doctor and was friendly and caring.

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Using his position and the relationship he had created with them, he convinced the victims that they would need extra examinations to explore if there was anything more serious about the minor conditions.

None of these examinations were needed or requested by the patients themselves. He intentionally misinformed the victims that the examinations were necessary and completed them without any justification.

As well as conducting unnecessary examinations, used his position and abused the victim's trust, would go against protocol and did not offer chaperones to join the victims during their appointments, leaving them alone with him to carry out these acts.

Commander Kevin Southworth, said, "The impact these crimes have on victims will stay with them for the rest of their lives. At the Met, we are dedicated in supporting victims throughout all steps of investigations, right from the first report, to seeing justice being served at court. I encourage anyone who feels they have been a victim of sexual assault, domestic abuse or harassment to report it to police."

The case was led by the Met's Complex Investigation Team who liaised extensively with medical experts to establish that the improper examinations constituted a sexual offence.

According to the press note published by the UK metropolitan police, Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi, said, "He is a serial predator and someone who has targeted and caused great harm and pain to many people. I would like to, again, thank the victims and their bravery throughout this investigation.

“We do not tolerate violence against women and girls in any form and I hope this serves as another reminder that those who commit such offences will be found and justice will be served.

“I ask any person who is a victim of rape or sexual assault, regardless of when it happened to report it to the police. We will treat your allegations seriously and support you throughout the process."

Earlier in the trial jurors had been told Shah was a "well-regarded" GP partner, and his appointments at the Mawney Road surgery were often fully booked. However, the court later heard he exploited fears of cancer, taking advantage of his position of trust as a GP, to persuade women to have invasive examinations when there was no need for them.

He also used high-profile celebrity cases to persuade female patients to have intrusive examinations.

At the Old Bailey Court, Judge Rook said in his ruling on Monday that he had treated these patients as a means of sexual gratification. It is learned that he used to influence his patients through conversation in such a way that they would feel free to come forward for his examination and then he took the opportunity to touch them 'inappropriately' and took advantage of it.

While delivering the verdict, Judge Rook told him “You selected young and vulnerable women, gained their trust and preyed on their fears.”

He said the consequence of his behaviour had been to divert resources away from the NHS, damage the reputation of the surgery where he had worked and caused “long-term psychological damage” to his victims. “There can be no doubt your actions have undermined trust in general practitioners," he added.

Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC told ITV news “All 25 offences were part of a campaign of offending involving now 115 sexual offences against 28 victims. It was carefully planned. There was a mixture of flattery and fear in women. He selected vulnerable women. He gained their trust by saying he cared about them, he claimed he had special skills.”

According to HT, after his crimes were revealed to the world, he tried to falsify the medical records of the victims. Some of the victims told the court that the sexual assaults had a profound impact on their lives destroying their relationship with their partners, and left them struggling with trust issues when it came to men.

Also read- Indian Origin UK Doctor Charged With Sex Offences Against 48 Patients Over 35 Years