A DOCTOR was told to expect to receive a prison sentence after he was found guilty of groping a teenage patient during a surgery examination.

Locum GP Dr Unt Tun Maung was said to have cupped and squeezed the young woman’s breasts “for a significant period of time” while conducting the chest examination at a medical centre in Teesside.

Durham Crown Court heard that the married father-of-one, from Chester-le-Street, told the woman to remove her bra before carrying out the examination.

The patient was said to have attended the surgery complaining of a cough and flu-like symptoms, in July 2012.

During the trial, the prosecution described such procedure as, “entirely inappropriate”, claiming Dr Maung used the examination to “camouflage” sexual assault.

Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, told the court the victim described feeling, “uncomfortable, vulnerable and immediately wanting to get out” of the examination room.

She subsequently sent a text to a friend saying: “I feel like I’ve just been groped. That’s all I need.”

Dr Maung, who denied sexual assault, claimed he was feeling her chest bone and ribs for inflammation and any touching of the breasts was, “entirely unintentional”.

He also said he did not ask her to remove her bra.

But, the jury returned a guilty verdict, on a 10-2 majority, following more than six hours’ deliberation on the seventh day of the trial yesterday. (Tuesday March 3).

The jury cleared Dr Maung of a second count of sexual assault, which he also denied.

That was said to have taken place on a younger teenager who went to a village surgery in County Durham with a suspected urinary tract infection, in September, 2013.

Following the verdicts, defence counsel Andrew Hurst requested preparation of a background report on Dr Maung, who is of previous good character.

“Having been found guilty it’s plainly a serious matter.

“It’s particularly serious, given his position as a doctor,” he added.

Judge Christopher Prince agreed to delay sentence pending preparation of the Probation Service report.

He added: “The defendant must understand when he returns to court he must expect to receive a custodial sentence.”

The judge also told Dr Maung his name would be entered on the Sex Offenders’ Register, the length of which will be determined by the sentence he receives.

Dr Maung, who was bailed to return for sentence on April 17, is also subject to interim suspension, preventing him from practising as a doctor, by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The GMC's own investigation will be concluded following the outcome of the criminal proceedings.