Manish Shah trial: London GP 'used celebs’ cases as excuse to grope women’

A popular GP accused of groping women and girls at his east London surgery used the cases of Hollywood star Angelina Jolie and reality TV star Jade Goody to trick them into un-necessary intimate examinations, the Old Bailey heard today.

Dr Manish Shah, 50, allegedly groped 25 women at his Romford surgery between 2009 and 2013.

He is accused of using the case of tragic reality TV star Ms Goody to persuade one patient to have a smear test, and citing Ms Jolie’s cancer-preventing double mastectomy to examine another woman’s breasts when she had a painful shoulder.

“He brought up the news story of Angelina Jolie’s preventative mastectomy,” said prosecutor Kate Bex QC, adding Shah then “asked her if she would like him to examine her breasts.

“He was obviously aware it was contrary to NHS guidelines, and told the woman he was offering a service available in other countries and not in the UK. He said he had recently seen two patients with breast cancer who were even younger than her.

"That was deliberate and intended to reassure her and reduce the risk she would question what he is doing, and it worked.”

Jurors heard Shah, who specialised in family planning and gynaecology, had already been convicted at a trial last year of sexually assaulting 17 female patients between 2009 and 2013. He is now on trial again, accused of sexually assaulting eight more patients, including one aged just 11, over the same five-year period.

Ms Bex said Shah’s examinations were for “sexual gratification” and he persuaded one woman to strip naked as he examined her.

Shah, suspended in 2013 when complaints came to light and police investigated, denies 13 charges of sexual assault and 21 of assault by penetration.

The trial continues.