A former gynaecologist found guilty of sex assaults on patients at Woolwich’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital was jailed for eight years today (July 26).

Mahesh Vidyadhar Patwardhan, 53, from Essex, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court for offences against four women over six years – as well as two counts of fraud.

Judge Alice Robinson told the court that the impact statement from one of his victims was “one of the most harrowing I’ve ever read”.

She said: “You knew about the serious sexual abuse she suffered as a child.”

Another victim had attempted suicide and said Patwardhan ruined her life, Judge Robinson told the court.

The assaults took place at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich and Blackheath Hospital in Lewisham between 2008 and 2012.

The day before one complainant was due to have a hysterectomy, Patwardhan conducted a breast exam, despite the patient telling him she had recently had a mammogram.

Judge Alice Robinson said: “You got her to bend over and squeezed both breasts from behind.

“She was so desperate with her gynaecological problems she continued to see you afterwards – with her husband there as well.”

The court heard that in another case, a patient who had come in for advice about reversing a sterilisation was touched from behind by Patwardhan and could feel that he had an erection.

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When he asked her to take her knickers off she made an excuse and left.

It was only when she expressed concerns to a nurse in the maternity ward later on that year that the assault was reported.

Patwardhan also hatched a plan with a patient to proceed with a labioplasty procedure her insurance wouldn’t cover by falsifying paperwork to put it through as a completely different procedure, the court heard.

Judge Robinson said: “You didn’t have the least concern that the patient could be at risk in the future because of the false documentation [in her medical history].”

Defending lawyer David Etherington QC appealed for leniency from Judge Robinson in her sentencing, citing Patwardhan's charitable endeavours and good character.

He said: "We have heard of his beginnings, coming to the UK and becoming a lead consultant at a hospital.

"This amounts to a total destruction of his career.

"That is a punishment on top of the punishment the court imposes."

Speaking on behalf of the ex-doctor's wife, he told the court Patwardhan lost his own father at the age of 17 and that his ailing 75-year-old mother in India was "devastated" by his conviction.

He said: "His wife describes him as an exceptional and involved father and steadfast and loving husband."

Judge Robinson acknowledged the character references submitted and that the defendant was at low risk of reoffending as he would never practise as a doctor again.

But she said the nature of the offences he was convicted of "somewhat diminished" his previous good character.

Mahesh was sentenced to a total of eight years for the four counts of sexual assault and two counts of fraud, half of which will be served in custody.

Patwardhan will then be released on licence.

He will have to sign the sex offenders register and is barred from working with vulnerable adults and children.

Judge Robinson said: “Nothing I do or say can change what has happened but I hope this will bring relief and closure to the complainants so they can move on with their lives.”