A FAMILY doctor twice convicted of kerb-crawling has been allowed to keep his job after an investigation by the General Medical Council.

No further action is to be taken against Dr Patrick Holmes, who works in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

The 33-year-old was convicted for the second time in September for soliciting prostitutes in Teesside's red light district.

A risk assessment carried out by a team of senior doctors from County Durham concluded that Dr Holmes was not a risk to patients. The findings were presented to a General Medical Council meeting on December 18.

The married father-of-two returned to his practice at the Felix House surgery shortly before Christmas.

He had been suspended from seeing patients until the investigation by GMC was completed.

The surgery had previously sent out letters to patients asking if Dr Holmes should remain at the practice and, in a statement last night, it said there had been overwhelming support for the GP.

The statement said: "The opinion of the vast majority of patients who replied is that Dr Holmes is an excellent doctor and he should continue to work in the practice.

"With this in mind, following the General Medical Council's decision not to suspend him, we have agreed that Dr Holmes will return to work with immediate effect.

"We wish to acknowledge the support we have received from our patients during this time."

Dr Holmes, of Middleton Lane, Middleton St George, was first convicted of kerb-crawling in March 2000.