A SEX pest GP has been struck off the medical register after an unblemished 40-year career.

Indian born Shiv Prasad Bagchi engaged in prolonged sexually motivated behaviour towards five women at various times over a six year period, four of which worked full-time at his practice and one a student on a six week placement.

He told one woman he had “bachelor blood in me” and that he “[got] urges like any man”.

Dr Bagchi, regarded as a hard-working, diligent and caring doctor, had worked in the UK since 1976, qualifying as a GP in 1980 and set up his own practice in 1988 based at the Pallion Health Centre in Sunderland.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) tribunal in Manchester found that between 2009 and 2015 he had engaged in physical contact such as the touching of intimate areas, for example the groin and lips, and other contact such as cuddling, kissing and stroking of hands and arms.

The behaviour continued despite him being warned in 2012 by one woman that it was inappropriate.

For the most part it took place in the privacy of his consulting room when the women were alone with him.

Dr Bagchi was described as “touchy feely” and it was claimed in evidence that he had told one of the complainants he dreamt about her dancing around a pole with knee-high leather boots on, an allegation that was found not proved.

It was found proved that he had kissed her on the cheek, told her he loved her and that she should look at flats with him so he could leave his wife.

It was said that his fitness to practice was impaired because of his misconduct.

Dr Bagchi’s representative at the tribunal made some apologies on his behalf for having made four of the women involved feel uncomfortable and having “crossed professional boundaries”, but these were said to be too narrow and not fulsome enough.

In mitigation over a 40 year medical career he had never been the subject of any other adverse fitness to practice findings and no concerns had been raised about his clinical skills.

He received character references from GPs and nursing colleagues who had known him for 20 years and positive testimonials from medical students who he had supervised.

MPTS tribunal chairman Paul Curtis said Dr Bagchi had abused his professional position and said erasing his name from the medical register would maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour.

He has been suspended and the decision to erase will take effect within 28 days, unless he exercises a right of appeal.