On 10 December 2019, Manish Shah was convicted of 25 counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration at the Old Bailey in respect of unnecessary and invasive intimate examinations of six patients between May 2009 and June 2013.
Shah was a GP at the Mawney Medical Centre in Essex. He had already been convicted of similar allegations made by seventeen women.
Shah denied the offences, and stated that he was practicing “defensive medicine”.
Shah abused his trusted position to perform vaginal examinations, rectal examinations and breast examinations for sexual gratification. One witness stated that Shah told her that Angelina Jolie had a preventative mastectomy and offered to examine her breasts. Another witness stated that he convinced her to let him perform a breast examination by discussing Jade Goody, who died of cervical cancer.
Shah has been convicted of offences against 23 women and will be sentenced on 7 February 2020.
It was heard during the trial that Dr Shah would hug and kiss patients, telling them that they are a “star” or “special”, stating that he had a “soft spot” for them. In our experience, perpetrators often use compliments and overfamiliarity to groom victims and ensure that there is an element of fear and secrecy to the abuse. It was heard that Shah failed to follow the relevant guidelines with regards to the presence of chaperones when conducting examinations. It was also heard that he would not always wear gloves when conducting examinations.
Here at Farleys, we have substantial experience of dealing with allegations of sexual abuse by medical professionals and other individuals in positions of power or trust. We appreciate that it can be very difficult to talk about what happened. We address all enquiries with sensitivity and in the strictest confidence. Call our specialist abuse line on 0330 134 6430 or email us today.
