A SURGEON accused of abusing a young patient has today been cleared by a jury of what he called "disgusting and insulting" allegations.

Magdy Eskander was acquitted of three charges of sexual assault at the end of a nine-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The jury found the 59-year-old, from Chilton, County Durham, not guilty of a fourth count - relating to a second girl - during the case.

Mr Eskander was said to have inappropriately touched his accuser during two visits to Darlington Memorial Hospital with a back complaint in 2011.

The married father-of-three, who retired last year as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, strenuously denied the allegations when he gave evidence earlier this week.

He was asked by his barrister, Anthony Maycroft: "How do you feel about the suggestion you touched a child inappropriately?"

The doctor said: "I feel disgusted. I have spent a lifetime caring for my patients, and I care a lot. I go out of my way to look after children.

"To compare me to a paedophile, a low-life creature, is insulting, absolutely insulting. It is a nightmare.

"I feel absolutely disgusted that my name is being linked to this horrendous, heinous crime."

The jury of nine woman and three men heard details of Mr Eskander's medical studies, his career, church activities and charity work.

He told how he got a degree at Cairo University in Egypt in 1980, followed by two post-graduate fellowships in general surgery and orthopaedics.

Two years after graduating, he came to the UK and worked in a number of hospitals, and as a doctor for the British armed forces for eight years from 1990.

In 2004, he was appointed consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Darlington, became lead clinician within a year, and went on to specialise in children.

Asked by Mr Haycroft what he did outside of work, he told the jury he was heavily involved in his local church, where his wife took Sunday school.

He said he often drives a mini-bus for disadvantaged families - mostly asylum-seekers - but has put in place protocols so he is never alone with children.

The court heard that he is part of a Christian cause called Copts in Need, and contributes to charities which look after orphanages in Egypt.

Mr Eskander said he acts as a "point of contact" for children and adolescents in the church, to help with CV writing and interview techniques.

Mr Haycroft asked: "In the church, do you ever get into a situation where you are alone with children?" He said: "I would not allow it to happen."

Mr Eskander told the court he used to see more than 600 patients a year, and does not remember the girl who claims he sexually assaulted her.

He told the jury that he would never have examined a child without a chaperone being there - usually a nurse, sometimes a parent, and often both.