Wednesday 7 March 2012

G.P. Accused Of Groping Receptionist And Patient


A G.P., accused of groping his receptionist, also fondled a young patient's breast while examining the woman's two year-old daughter, as she sat on her lap, a jury were told today.


Dr. Ayoola Makanjuola, 53, also joked the young mum, who he also groped during a previous appointment, was cool under pressure while placing her hand between his legs, Wood Green Crown Court heard.


The G.P., of Page Street, Mill Hill has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexually assaulting the 25 year-old patient on various dates between October 27, 2008 and January 20, last year at his surgery in Bell Hill, Bicknoller, Barnet.


He also denies six counts of indecently assaulting his 43 year-old receptionist between March 31 and June 4, 2002 while they worked alone at an isolated Borehamwood out-of-hours surgery.


Prosecutor Mr. David Markham said: "The man in the dock is a G.P. who has abused his position of power and trust by sexually touching two females in his workplace.


"It is a feature that this defendant exceeded the professional boundaries with each complainant and failed to control his urges and made no secret of his attraction to each female."


The patient was a mum-to-be when she saw Dr. Makanjuola (pictured) on October 27, 2008. "The examination involved him rubbing her nipple and she was left feeling something inappropriate had happened," explained Mr. Markham.


The patient insisted her nurse friend chaperoned her on all future appointments, but the doctor's behaviour continued she he next saw her.


"The friend was taken aback by a remark from Dr. Makanjuola that the two women were lesbians and that he would be the patient's next boyfriend."


The patient next saw the doctor because of flu symptoms. "He put one of his fingers down into her bra," said Mr. Markham.


"Her friend was concerned about the examination because he was not listening to her back or asking her to breathe in or out.


"He also remarked that she would be his next girlfriend and that she looked good," added the prosecutor. "The touching of her breast was not part of a medical examination, but sexual."


She was next forced to see the G.P. alone because her toddler daughter was ill.


"The examination of the child took a sinister course. As Dr. Makanjuola listened to the child's chest her mother felt her breast and nipple being touched. He was playing with one of her breasts while he examined the child.


"Because of neck pain from a car accident he asked her to lay on the couch so he could examine her. He took her hand and placed it on or around the area of his penis and she will tell you she could physically feel the doctor's erection.


"He laughed and joked that she coped well under pressure."


The patient reported the G.P. to police the next day and he was arrested on February 10, but denied al the allegations.


His former receptionist also made a statement to police, complaining she was similarly groped while working alone with Dr. Makanjuola a decade earlier.


"He remarked to her that she had a 'sexy body' and asked if she had a boyfriend and when she last had sex," Mr. Markham told the jury. "He made it clear he was sexually attracted to her.


"He approached her from behind as she was working and touched her breasts and on another occasion grabbed her arm and directed it towards his penis.


"He also grabbed her from behind and pulled her towards him so she could feel his penis was erect and placed his hand in the area of her vagina."


The receptionist complained to the General Medical Council, but after a hearing in 2003 Dr. Makanjuola was cleared of the allegations.


She told the jury: "He told me he thought I was sexy and asked if I was married and said he liked my bottom. He said I did not have big breast, but found me sexy and would tell me he had a hard-on."


Once the doctor sandwiched her between himself and the glass main door, she said. "He pressed himself on me and asked if I could feel his hard-on.


"Once, when I was sitting at reception, he came over to pick up some paperwork and put his hand over my pubic area and went away with a smirk.


"He would come from behind me and catch me unaware and put his hand on my breast."


The trial is expected to last two weeks.

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