GP 'used me for sex'

7:39am Tuesday 8th July 2008

A woman patient has accused a Bradford GP of using her for sex.

But Dr Keith Fraser has alleged he was being blackmailed by the woman into giving her tens of thousands of pounds, a General Medical Council Fitness to Practise panel heard yesterday.

The panel, which is sitting in Manchester, is determining whether Dr Fraser’s ability to work as a doctor has been impaired by him entering into an emotional and sexual relationship with the patient – referred to only as Miss A – lending her money and buying her personal gifts.

Giving evidence, Miss A , who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said she was being treated for anxiety and depression at Highfield Medical Centre in Tong, Bradford, and alleged that Dr Fraser gained her confidence by listening at length to her problems which included her being hit by her partner.

Elizabeth Nichols, counsel for the GMC, said the relationship lasted from about 2003 until about February 2007 when Miss A made a complaint to the practice.

Miss A, whom the hearing was told was referred for psychiatric assessment and counselling for depression in 2003, has accused Dr Fraser of using her for sex, calling her 20 times a day, making lewd comments, giving her money and threatening to tell her partner to keep her quiet.

Miss A said: “I never consented to any sex; he was blackmailing me and would say if I did not do it he would tell my boyfriend.

“He hadn’t had sex with his wife for six years so I found myself counselling him, not him counselling me.”

Miss A also claimed Dr Fraser locked her in a room and forced her to commit a sexual act on him.

Barrister George Hugh-Jones, for Dr Fraser, said a letter from Miss A’s solicitor suggested her complaint was initiated when Dr Fraser asked for the return of money he had lent her.

He said Dr Fraser had given Miss A something in the region of £40,000 in total, including lending sums of £10,000 and £9,000 and paying £8,000 for a Volkswagen Bora car.

Cross-examining Miss A, Mr Hugh-Jones asked her: “Did you tell your sister you were going to get money off Dr Fraser?

“That you were waiting for the right time to make a complaint against Dr Fraser and that you told your sister you thought you had Dr Fraser where you wanted him to claim compensation from him?

“Did you not suggest that your sister would do the same to trap a policeman or a solicitor in the same way as you were trapping Dr Fraser?”

Miss A denied all the allegations. She said she had not returned the money for the VW Bora because she had not asked Dr Fraser to buy it for her.

Mr Hugh-Jones also accused Miss A of forging two cheques from Dr Fraser to gain £400 more than each was made out for.

Miss A also denied those allegations.

The hearing continues.

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