(Image: DURHAM POLICE)
A “despicable” GP sexually assaulted a woman by grabbing her breasts and saying he was “checking for lumps”.
Muhammad Iqbal pretended he needed to examine the victim’s breasts - despite that not being the reason she needed to be examined - during the a “horrendous” sex attack.
It was one of two sexual assaults carried out by Iqbal at the time, with the two women attending physiotherapy appointments in Darlington and Sunderland after being involved in crashes.
The meetings, which were arranged by their insurance companies, left both women feeling violated and they reported them to the police.
Iqbal, of Julianstown, County Meath, Ireland, was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault but denied the offences.
A trial was held last month and the 64-year-old was found guilty - and today (August 14) he was jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court.
He was also placed on the sex offender register for ten years.
Detective Constable Charlotte Naisby, of Durham Police’s complex safeguarding team, praised the women for coming forward and encouraged any others who think they might have been assaulted to do the same.
“Iqbal preyed on these women during a very vulnerable period in their lives and his behaviour was despicable," she said.
“The women should have felt safe being examined by a certified GP but instead Iqbal not only assaulted them but breached their trust in the most horrendous way and we are glad to see he is now behind bars.
“We hope these women can now begin to rebuild their lives and I’d like to praise their bravery and courage in reporting the offences and helping us to bring Iqbal to justice.”
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Sergeant Kimberley Ball, of Northumbria Police, said: “As a force, we just simply won’t tolerate this type of offending and, alongside our partners, we’ll work tirelessly to bring offenders such as Iqbal to justice.
“Iqbal was in a position of trust over these two women, and to choose a time when they were seeking medical assistance to do what he has done to them is something which is truly deplorable.
“I hope both victim-survivors can now move forward with their lives, and I am grateful to their courage to come forward and make a report.
“I am confident they have made the North East safer now that this man’s crimes have been brought to light.”