HEART DOC’S ‘13-YEAR REIGN OF SEX TERROR’
ONE of Britain’s top heart surgeons sexually assaulted five women at work after assuming they would not dare to complain about a doctor of his ‘well-deserved renown’, a court heard.
Mohamed Amrani, 53, allegedly raped one victim in his office during a campaign of ‘sexual bullying’ at Harefield Hospital in Hillingdon, west London.
The consultant surgeon, whose wife worked part-time at Harefield, also groped three other women there over a 13-year period between 2001 and 2014.
He was finally reported to his bosses after he patted the bottom of a fifth victim at the Cromwell Private Hospital in Kensington, southwest London, in June 2014.
Anus
The surgeon performed the UK’s first double valve replacement using keyhole surgery in 2007 and has carried out many life-saving operations during his career.
Prosecutor Peter Clement told the Old Bailey that Mr Amrani was “a leading heart and transplant surgeon of well-deserved renown”.
He said: “Mohamed Amrani was held in the highest regard by those who worked with him.
“But there was another side to him: One who exhibited sexualised behaviour.
“It wasn’t just banter, it was obscene and descended to assaults by way of grabbing victims’ breasts – over and under clothing – of grabbing their genitalia, of patting a backside and in the case of one digitally penetrating her vagina and anus before raping her in his office at the hospital.”
Mr Clement said that most of his victims decided not to make a formal complaint at the time, adding: “His position conferred a high degree of authority, power and trust.
“He breached all three for his own sexual gratification, confident that those whom he assaulted would not dare make a formal complaint.
“He was right in his assumption, but only for a period of time.”
Mr Amrani brazenly repeated his assaults on one victim over an eight-month period, the court heard.
Jurors were told that the woman described him as “charming and funny” but also equipped with an explosive temper.
She was first allegedly assaulted when he reached out and grabbed her breasts without warning in 2003.
On one occasion he even assaulted her in front of a colleague, the court was told.
Mr Clement said: “It was, suggest the prosecution, sexual bullying of a high order by a man confident that his seniority would ensure his targets’ silence.”
Mr Amrani was arrested in May 2015 after the alleged rape victim made a formal complaint.
She claims Mr Amrani attacked her in his office in September 2013 moments after telling her: “I’m going to f**k you”.
She begged him: “No, please don’t,” but he ignored her and pushed her down on the sofa in the room, jurors were told.
Oral
Mr Amrani then forced her to perform oral sex, it was said.
Mr Clement continued: “Consent didn’t enter into it. He couldn’t care less about her wishes, he cared only about himself.”
The surgeon then answered a call on his mobile phone before leaving his office, the court heard.
Mr Amrani later made a series of comments to the victim and flicked her ear, and also asked her: “What did it taste like?” it is claimed.
Mr Clement said: “He sought to belittle – to bully – her.”
The alleged victim made a formal complaint to the Harefield in February 2015 and Mr Amrani was arrested in May that year.
In his police interview Mr Amrani denied any sexual contact with the woman, who was the third of the five alleged victims.
It is claimed that in early 2014 Mr Amrani jumped out at the fourth victim in the hospital corridor and squeezed her nipples.
He then asked her if she liked it, to which she replied: “No,” and pulled away, jurors heard.
Mr Amrani later told her: “You do realise I will f**k you sooner or later.’
This woman went to police after learning of the allegations made by the alleged rape victim.
The fifth victim also revealed she had been patted on the bottom by Mr Amrani at the Cromwell Private Hospital on June 7, 2014.
She tried to slap him across the face but he ducked, jurors heard.
The fifth victim later reported the incident to the Trust and the complaint was passed to police.
Mr Amrani, of Harrow, northwest London, denies one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration, six counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault.
The trial continues.