A doctor who sexually assaulted two patients during medical appointments has been jailed for 18 months. Muhammed Iqbal, 64, of Julianstown, County Meath, Ireland, was convicted by a jury after denying two charges of sexual assault.
Abuse During Insurance Examinations
Iqbal was employed by insurance companies to carry out examinations on people injured in car accidents. He used his position to grope two women's breasts and rubbed against one of them with an erection during their examinations. The GP, who had a practice in Ireland, regularly travelled to the UK to work at clinics in Sunderland, Newcastle and Darlington on behalf of insurance firms.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that during examinations of two women at clinics in Sunderland and Darlington, he sexually assaulted them. Judge Edward Bindloss described how one assault in Darlington involved Iqbal telling the patient to stand up, then rubbing against her with an erection on her bottom and pulling and squeezing her left breast. In Sunderland, he asked another patient to remove her top, lifted her bra, and touched both breasts with both hands, having 'a good feel'.
Victims Speak Out
Both victims attended the hearing and read their own victim impact statements. One told Iqbal: '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 had taken. Imagine not trusting a doctor again, this is what you have done to me and my family. I really hope if other people have been assaulted by him they take courage from this verdict and come forward and report him.'
The second woman said she was targeted while in a 'vulnerable' state. She said she was shocked when she left the examination and 'that shock continued for months,' then turned to anger.
Judge's Remarks and Consequences
Judge Bindloss told Iqbal: 'You were using medical examinations in relation to one patient and then a second patient as a cover for sexually assaulting them. Both were in your clinic having suffered, in car accidents, physical injuries. You were employed, or you were paid by insurance companies to provide medical reports. You gave evidence to the jury that this was business you regularly came over the UK from your place of domicile in Ireland to perform. You saw many patients, back to back and wrote reports on them and their injuries from car accidents for the purpose of assessment of damages in any litigation.'
The judge noted that Iqbal handed in character references, including from other doctors, who described him as 'loyal, courteous, good-humoured, caring and compassionate.' However, he said the sentence had to be immediate imprisonment, adding: 'People need to know their GP or a doctor they are seeing has their best interests at heart.'
Phil Gibbs, defending, said Iqbal, who is married with grown children, was suspended by the GMC and will now be struck off. He has also been removed from his GP practice in Ireland. Mr Gibbs said Iqbal will never be able to practice again.
