Victim’s ordeal

A WOMAN has spoken for the first time about an alleged sex attack by a GP Philip Schuppler.

She claims she was attacked by Schuppler in 1995 while a ‘vulnerable’ patient at his Acocks Green surgery, and contacted police last September about the allegation.

And she says she believes that there may well be other victims, who may now come forward.

“It happened more than 20 years ago,” she said. “That’s how long I’ve been carrying this with me. I didn’t speak to anybody at the time because I didn’t think I’d be believed. I was young, vulnerable, in a violent relationship and social services had taken my child into care. He was fully aware of all this and I needed his support.”

The mother regained custody of her child and managed to rebuild her life – but said the alleged attack had a lasting and profound impact on her.

“The incident itself was disgusting,” she said. “He pulled the curtain across and performed a totally unwarranted examination. I remember a receptionist coming into the room and him swearing loudly.

“The incident never goes away. It never leaves you.

“I’m in a good place in my life now and feel like I can talk about it, but there have been some very difficult days.

“I self-harmed in the aftermath and I really struggled, but just about managed to hold things together. I moved away, went to university as a mature student and I now have a responsible job.

“But I think he targeted me because of my vulnerability.”