A DISTRAUGHT mother has backed police moves to seek a longer prison sentence for the doctor who sexually assaulted her seven-year-old daughter.

The little girl's mother contacted The Northern Echo because she was angry at the three-and-a-half-year sentence given to disgraced GP Syed Amjad Husain.

She was also "very impressed" that action taken by The Northern Echo to alert the authorities in Pakistan means the doctor will not be able to practise in his home country after release from prison.

It is the first time the woman, who does not wish to be named, has spoken to the media.

"I think the sentence given to this man is a complete joke. I think they are really taking the mickey," the girl's mother said.

She was reacting to news that Durham Constabulary and lawyers from the local Crown Prosecution Service are to ask the Attorney General to take another look at the sentence handed to Husain.

The GP was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday after he admitted indecently assaulting two children, aged seven and nine, a 15-year-old, and two women aged 32 and 74.

Husain also confessed to filming his victims as he carried out his attacks and admitted downloading child pornography on his computer, showing girls as young as four in sex acts with adults.

"How do I bring up my daughter to respect the law when he gets something like this," said the mother.

"He has totally destroyed my confidence in doctors. My little girl is now very wary when she goes to the doctor or the dentist. She is always looking around for cameras."

The woman said she was "very pleased" that the Pakistan High Commission, in London, had given assurances that Husain would never be allowed to practise there.

David Hines, chairman of the North of England Victims Association, whose daughter, Marie, was murdered by a former boyfriend, said: "The sentence is totally inadequate.

"This guy should face something like ten years for what he has done. The way things are, he will be out in 18 months or two years."