Doctor from Powys border on trial for sexual assaults

Stephen Cox, 64, denies 16 counts of indecent assault against seven women while he practised as a GP in Bracknell, Berkshire, between 1988 and 1997.

The allegations against Cox, from Marton on the Powys-Shropshire border near Welshpool, include that he touched patients’ breasts, and others involving penetrative sexual activity.

One woman also claims he pushed her against her kitchen cupboards and grabbed her throat during a home visit.

Nine of the allegations were made by one former patient.

A jury was sworn in at a trial at Reading Crown Court on Monday.

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Prosecutor Chris Hewertson alleged that Cox took “sexual gratification” in assaulting the women, some of whom were pregnant at the time of the incidents.

Mr Hewertson said: “We, the prosecution, say that over the course of a number of years from 1988 to 1997 he indecently assaulted seven of the patients at that GP surgery.

“We say he did this on the pretext of carrying out routine medical examinations.”

Mr Hewertson added their case is that Cox was “motivated by sexual pleasure by the deliberate touching of certain areas of the body” and the actions were not medically justified.

He said: “It was inappropriate, wrong, not medically justified, criminal.”

He told the jury they would hear from medical expert witnesses as well as the victims themselves during the trial.

Addressing the jury, he said the evidence would raise questions for them, like: “What are the chances of an upstanding and professional man of medicine being targeted by seven different women and being accused of very similar or identical physical activity?

“Why would seven women want to make false allegations against a general practitioner in that way?”

Mr Hewertson also briefly outlined what they expect Cox’s defence to be, saying he is expected to say he never indecently touched a patient and that he has no memory of them.

Her Honour Judge Sarah Campbell told the jury that the case was a retrial but ordered them not to look into the details of the previous case.

Judge Campbell adjourned the case until Tuesday.