A doctor who sexually assaulted two women while examining them after car crashes has been jailed. Dr Mohammad Iqbal, 64, denied betraying the women's trust in his role preparing reports on patients to assess damages from car accidents. Iqbal denied two counts of sexual assault, but he was found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court and has been sentenced to 18 months.
Judge condemns 'gross breach of trust'
Judge Edward Bindloss told him during sentencing: "You were using a medical examination in relation to (the patients) as a cover for sexually assaulting them. In a gross breach of trust of the doctor patient relationship, you sexually assaulted both of them."
Both women had suffered injuries and were being checked by Iqbal, who would regularly visit the UK to carry out the work from Ireland where he was a GP. He told one of the two women to stand up then rubbed himself against her in an aroused state for some 40 seconds before squeezing her breast, The Chronicle reports. Iqbal, of Julianstown, County Meath, asked the second woman to take off her top, touched her breasts and "had a good feel", the court heard.
Victim impact statements
Judge Bindloss told Iqbal he was well aware of the harm inflicted on one of the women in the crash, recommending in his report that she receive counselling. The judge said: "That made her vulnerable and you knew of her vulnerability prior to sexually assaulting her."
In a victim impact statement, one of the women said Iqbal had turned her into a victim and statistic. She added: "I went to you as a doctor, as someone in a position of trust and you not only completely betrayed this position but also the medical oath you have taken. You also sexually assaulted me that day and I can never forgive you for that. Imagine not trusting a doctor. Again, that’s what you have done to me and my family. On the day I found out Dr Iqbal had been found guilty I cried so hard, I was shaking."
The second woman told the court she has been through a myriad of emotions, including anger. She added: "When Dr Iqbal chose to assault me in the medical examination I was vulnerable. I remember being in floods of tears recounting what happened during the accident. He took advantage of that vulnerability and he was wrong to do so."
Career and consequences
The court heard Iqbal has been suspended by the General Medical Council and it is likely he will lose his registration. He has also been suspended by the Irish Medical Council and his GP practice has been terminated.
Phil Gibbs, defending, said Iqbal accepted that through his actions he brought an end to a relatively illustrious career and his downfall. He said: "That's a significant punishment. He accepts he will never work as a doctor again. His actions have brought all of this downfall on himself. He has lost his good name. He has placed his family in peril because he now has no income and his wife has no income. Their three children are adults. They still have a fairly significant mortgage, which it's unclear how they are going to meet now."
Det Cons Charlotte Naisby from Durham Constabulary praised the women for coming forward and encouraged others who think they might have been assaulted to do the same. In a statement, she said: "Iqbal preyed on these women during a very vulnerable period in their lives and his behaviour was despicable. The women should have felt safe being examined by a certified GP, but instead Iqbal not only assaulted them but breached their trust in the most horrendous way and we are glad to see he is now behind bars."
