Morriston Hospital (Image: salarko / Alamy)
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A doctor who sexually assaulted two female members of staff at a Swansea hospital has been barred from practising medicine for 12 months following a tribunal hearing.
The assaults
Naleen Thota, 56, was working as a senior doctor at Morriston Hospital when he targeted two women on separate occasions, cornering each of them after ensuring they were alone. On more than one occasion he hugged one female colleague, and on another he squeezed her right hip tightly, saying “ooh” or words to that effect as he did so.
Neither victim reported the assaults at the time, fearing that Thota’s senior position within the hospital would mean they were not believed. The offending was eventually disclosed, but Thota denied any wrongdoing and the case proceeded to trial.
Victim impact
Both women spoke powerfully about the lasting harm caused by Thota’s actions.
One victim told the court the “violation” at his hands had taken her mental health “to a very dark place” but said the jury’s guilty verdicts had restored her belief that “if you speak up people will believe you”.
She also said Thota “wielded his position of power like a weapon to hurt me and silence me”.
The second victim described his behaviour as “predatory and calculating”, saying he had sought out and groomed his victims. She said Thota presented a “friendly façade” to fellow doctors which concealed his true nature, and that she had sought counselling to try to deal with what he did to her.
Criminal conviction
A jury at Swansea Crown Court found Thota guilty of two counts of sexual assault. Judge Catherine Richards sentenced him to 21 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and complete a rehabilitation course. He was also made the subject of 10-year restraining orders and must remain on the sex offender register for 10 years from the date of his conviction.
Tribunal outcome
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing took place in Manchester between April 20 and April 28. The panel, chaired by Bushra Tabassum, determined that Thota’s fitness to practise was currently impaired and ordered his suspension for 12 months with immediate effect. He may appeal at any point from 28 days after the decision.
Background
Thota trained as a doctor in India before moving to the UK 22 years ago. At the time of the offences he had been living in Swansea for just one month. He had no previous convictions. His barrister Hywel Davies told the court it was likely Thota would have to leave Swansea due to the shame he had brought on himself and his wife and daughters.
