SEXUAL ASSAULT DOC ‘GROPED FOUR MORE’
A DOCTOR who was convicted of sexually assaulting patients at his surgery also groped four other women over a 22-year period, a court heard.
Navin Zala, 68, allegedly attacked the victims for his own sexual gratification by disguising the abuse as legitimate medical examinations.
He targeted three of the women during consultations at his surgery in Gravesend, Kent, between 1985 and 2007, it is claimed.
He also fondled the breasts of a fourth victim after she went for a medical at Queen Mary Hospital in Sidcup in the 1980s, jurors heard.
Publicity
The GP claims that the four new complainants have ‘mistakenly come forward’ because of publicity surrounding the previous case.
He qualified as a doctor in 1975 and got a job at the Marling Way surgery in Gravesend, Kent, soon after completing his GP training in 1982.
The four women came forward after the GP was convicted in June 2013 of 10 counts of indecent assault against former patients between 1985 and 1991, the Old Bailey heard.
Prosecutor Vivian Walters said: “The Crown allege that Mr Zala used his job as a doctor to sexually assault the four females in this case.
“Three of these women were patients and the offences took place at the surgery in the guise of intimate medical exams.
“The fourth complainant attended the Queen Mary Hospital in Sidcup for a medical. The doctor who conducted that examination was this defendant.
“The assault was disguised as part of a legitimate medical examination.”
The first alleged victim claimed she was repeatedly groped by the doctor between the ages of 17 and 25.
She described him as ‘having a good feel’ during breast exams.
Zala allegedly sexually assaulted the second victim during intimate exams of her genitals.
Zala, formerly of Gravesend, denies six counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.
The trial continues.