Motive still a mystery

DRIVEN by his inflated ego or plain greed, Ian Paterson caused unimaginable anxiety to victims.

With a stellar CV and an excellent bedside manner, he would routinely be sought out by concerned women across the Midlands.

But the man described as “like God” by one, lied to his patients, exaggerating or inventing the risk of cancer to convince them to go under his knife.

Prosecutors still do not know what drove him to cause so much anxiety to so many, describing his motives as “obscure”.

Frances Perks, who underwent a mastectomy by Paterson despite there being “no need”, said she hoped no one ever went through the same “completely and utter nightmare” she had endured.

She said: “I have got no respect for him. I just hate the person for what he’s done to me.

“[I am] glad justice has been done today. [I] would have liked him to go down and never come out but I’m pleased he’s got the sentence that he has. I hope he has the worst possible experience ever [in prison].”

John Ingram, who underwent a needless double mastectomy after being told by Paterson one was needed if he was to avoid cancer, said the surgeon was a “monster.” He questioned whether the sentence was appropriate given his “dark and grotesque crimes”.

Mr Ingram said: “He used his position, his obvious charm and charisma to lure patients into a system where he was able to drug and operate and remove