Consultant Gynaecologist Accused Of Groping Female Patients

A consultant gynaecologist groped six female patients during private and NHS consultations, even asking one woman to reveal her tattooed bum, a court heard yesterday.

Mahesh Patwardhan, 53, was turned on by rubbing himself against women while "groping" their breasts from behind as they bent over an examination couch, the jury were told.

Patwardhan, of Alderton Hill, Loughton, saw NHS patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlton and private patients at The Blackheath Hospital and The Holly, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

He has pleaded not guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to six counts of sexual assault between July 2, 2008 and September 24, 2012.

He also denies two counts of fraud relating to falsely billing private medical insurers for work he did not perform.

Prosecutor Miss Kate Bex said the first woman, aged 37, was an NHS patient referred by her GP who says the consultant groped her between her legs.

"It lasted ten seconds, but she was so shocked and surprised she did not say anything at the time."

She reported Patwardhan to the police after reading he was disciplined by the General Medical Council.

The second woman, a mum-of-three aged 32, was also seen at the Queen Elizabeth. "He came behind her and put his arms around her and onto her breasts.

"He groped her breasts and squeezed them with his hands and she was in total shock," said Miss Bex, explaining the woman made an excuse to avoid removing the rest of her clothing.

In digitally-recorded interview with police the woman explained: "He came behind us and that's when he put his hands on us. He wasn't talking, he was just groping my breasts.

"It was horrible, I was in total shock. I didn't know what to do, I felt sick and disgusted.

"When he said: 'Take your knickers off' I knew something was wrong. If I had lied on that couch and took my knickers off what would he have done?"

The third woman, a 35 year-old private patient, says Patwardhan groped her between her legs. 

"She says she heard him making a groaning noise and he asked her about her sex life and if she had orgasms," said Miss Bex.

Patwardhan performed intimate cosmetic surgery on the woman, but billed her insurers - AXA PPP - for cyst removal because they would not cover the true operation, the jury were told.

"Afterwards he told her she would soon be having: 'Lots of sexy sex and orgasms' in a way that gave her the creeps."

The fourth woman, a 37 year-old mum-of-two, says Patwardhan became more intimate after sizing her up.

"The cuddling started after her second or third visit," explained Miss Bex. "He'd hug her goodbye and push his body into her, grab her bottom and kiss her on the cheek.

"He examined her breasts after asking her to bend over the couch and asked her to show him the tattoo on her bum."

The fifth woman, aged 30, was a private Blackheath Hospital patient, who had an ovarian cyst.

"The defendant put his arms around her, his hand on her knee and told her she was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.

"He asked her to bend over the couch and she could feel his body pressing against hers from behind while cupping her breasts.

"She thought he became aroused and she was embarrassed so put her clothes on and left the room as fast as she could."

Patwardhan offered to investigate the back pain of a sixth woman, aged 26. "He felt her spine and then cupped her breasts.

A private BUPA patient, aged 21, came forward to report Patwardhan for making her sign a claim form for a £195 non-existent pre-surgery consultation.

She was seen at The Holly, where the defendant's wife was the anaesthetist, and said she did not make a fuss because she was in the couple's hands.

When questioned by police Patwardhan mainly answered "no comment" to questions, but did deny making dishonest claims and conducting sexually-motivated examinations.

The trial is expected to last three weeks…………