GP jailed for life for sexually assaulting 24 female patients

A GP branded a “master of deception” has been handed three life sentences after he was convicted of 90 sex offences against 24 female patients.

Manish Shah, who will serve at least 15 years in prison, cited the cases of Angelina Jolie and Jade Goody to persuade patients aged 15 to 39 to undergo unnecessary examinations for his sexual gratification, the Old Bailey heard.

Shah, 50, of Romford, east London, who claimed he was practising “defensive medicine” was last autumn found guilty of 25 sexual offences against six victims at Mawney Medical Centre between 2009 and 2013.

At an earlier trial in 2018, he was convicted of offences relating to 18 other women, bringing the total number of offences to 90 against 24 patients.

Fifteen of the victims sat in the Old Bailey yesterday as Shah was sentenced by Judge Anne Molyneux QC to three life sentences with a minimum term of 15 years. She said Shah had deployed a “mixture of flattery and fear” and used celebrity cases to carry out sex assaults.

Quoting one of his victims, the judge said: “You made up stories which got into heads and caused panic”.

The judge went on: “You were a master of deception and you abused your position of power. This was a horrible abuse of trust and caused incalculable harm. Your behaviour was not only sexual but was driven by your desire to control and on occasions humiliate women.”

Earlier, the youngest victim, who was 15 at the time, told the court she was left feeling “anxious, fearful and shaking” at the prospect of visiting the doctor after being abused by Shah.

Rosina Cottage QC, prosecuting, said the “lack of trust” created by Shah meant many victims refused to see male doctors and it had affected their relationships.

In mitigation, Zoe Johnson QC said that now he can no longer practise medicine, Shah is “a rather weak man”.

“He deeply regrets hurting them and cannot say sorry enough,” she said.