NRI Dr. Benjamin Deodhar,
jailed four-year
for molesting women patients
London, Aug 26, 2006
Col. Sundar Seth
NRI (non-resident Indian), Dr
Benjamin Deodhar, 63, was jailed for four years yesterday for
molesting women patients. Deodhar was described as a "very
good" doctor who had given many years of dedicated service
to the National Health Service. He assaulted the women while carrying
out 'inappropriate' internal examinations, Sheffield Crown Court
was told. His name has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.
- Dr Benjamin Deodhar, also flirted with his patients, giving
one perfume as a present and kissing her passionately.
- Six women accused him of indecency and none complained to police
at the time because they were either too embarrassed or thought
no one would believe them.
- He ran a busy one-man practice at Hainton Avenue, Grimsby with
2,900 patients, denied eight charges of indecent assault against
six women and one of sexually assaulting one of the patients by
kissing her
- He was found guilty of indecently assaulting three of the women
and of the sex assault.
Judge Simon Lawler told him: "It is sad indeed to see a man
such as you in a criminal dock." He said the offences took
place not just under the 'cloak' of examinations but involved 'quite
overt' sexual acts as well. "Each of these women have shown
great fortitude and courage in coming forward."
Dr. Deodhar has already been suspended by the General Medical Council's
interim orders panel until June, 2007. The alleged assaults spanned
13 years from September, 1991 to December, 2004. He denied eight
charges of indecent assault against six women and one of sexually
assaulting a patient by kissing her. But he was found guilty of
indecently assaulting three of the women and of the sex assault.
One of the women complained to police in October last year and
the other patients came forward when it was reported that he had
been charged.
A mother of four children who went to discuss an abortion
with the doctor when she was three months pregnant. After carrying
out an inappropriate examination he rubbed her breast over her jumper
and made the 'titties' remark. She said the doctor went looking
for her at her home a few days later but she was so shocked at what
happened in the surgery she avoided him.
A mother of two children, was asked by Deodhar if
she would be his girlfriend. He also offered to lend her cash and
gave her perfume which she threw away. "My boyfriend would
have gone mad," she said. When she fell pregnant and visited
the surgery again, he told her to stand up so he could give her
a cuddle. She said: "He came towards me, put both his arms
around me and kissed my lips and tried to stick his tongue down
my throat." She kept her lips closed and pushed him away.
A 36-year-old social worker, who claimed the doctor
indecently assaulted her and asked her about her sex life, said
of his wandering hands: "It was like the Yellow Pages advert
where the fingers do the walking."
Another woman who did not involve in the trial charges,
lodged a complaint in 2002 to the Police but the Crown Prosecution
Service decided to take no action.
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