Manish Shah: 'Sick and twisted' former GP handed two more life sentences for abusing female patients
The Old Bailey judge said the life sentences not only reflected the gravity of the crimes, but also the "public abhorrence" that followed - while the prosecution had revealed how Shah had selected vulnerable women and gained their trust as part of offences which were "carefully planned".
Monday 9 January 2023 17:04, UK
A "sick and twisted" former聽GP聽who committed 115 sexual offences against 28 women and girls as young as 15 and "preyed" on the fears of his victims has been handed two more life sentences.
Manish Shah, 53, abused his position when he persuaded female patients to undergo unnecessary intimate examinations for his sexual gratification over four years from 2009.
He flattered and groomed vulnerable victims and even used the cases of celebrities Angelina Jolie and Jade Goody to convince patients to agree to the invasive exams.
He then falsified records to cover it up, the Old Bailey had heard.
At the time, Shah had been a well-regarded GP partner at Mawney Road medical practice in Romford, east London - but has since been suspended and later struck off.
In February 2020, Shah was handed three life sentences with a minimum term of 15 years in prison for 90 offences against 24 women after two separate trials.
A third trial ended last month in 25 more convictions for sexual offences against four more women and girls.
On Monday, Judge Peter Rook handed Shah two life sentences with a minimum term of 10 years to run concurrently with the earlier sentences.
The life sentences related to offences against the two youngest victims who were aged 15 and 17 when Shah began to abuse them.
Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Rook said Shah remained a "danger to women" as he highlighted the "scale and nature" of his crimes.
The life sentences not only reflected their gravity but also the "public abhorrence" that followed once they came to light, he said.
Judge Rook told Shah: "You selected young and vulnerable women, gained their trust and preyed on their fears."
He said the consequence of Shah's behaviour had been to divert resources away from the NHS, damage the reputation of the surgery where he had worked and caused "long term psychological damage" to his victims.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC said: "All 25 offences were part of a campaign of offending involving now 115 sexual offences against 28 victims.
"It was carefully planned. There was a mixture of flattery and fear in women. He selected vulnerable women. He gained their trust by saying he cared about them, he claimed he had special skills."
Earlier in mitigation, Amanda Hamilton said: "He has gone from a position many would envy to a position lower than most of us can imagine."
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Rook noted Shah was married and still had the support of his family, there was no evidence of offending while on bail and had been a "model prisoner" since being jailed.
The judge imposed further determinate jail terms for the remaining counts which will also run concurrent to the life sentences.