GP jailed for 11 years for sex assaults that stretched across two decades

Police have thanked the women who came forward to help convict a GP who has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually assaulting patients.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed Gousul Islam, 70, was found guilty yesterday of 18 counts of indecent assault against a number of young women at his surgery near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Officers said the offences date back to the period from 1970 to the mid 1990s, when the women were between 13 and 28-years-old.

They were assaulted when they visited the doctor for minor ailments or routine examinations, which included complaints of a sore throat or regular health check ups.

Islam was a doctor at Lyndhurst Surgery on Church Road, Stainforth, for more than 30 years.

He was arrested in March 2010 following allegations and was charged in October 2011. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Islam was sentenced today following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court which began in November.

Detective Constable Sharon Row said: "The sentence Islam has received reflects the seriousness of the offences he carried out against his female patients.

"He abused his position of trust and took advantage of these young women.

"I would like to express my sincere thanks to the women, who have been brave enough to come forward and report the crimes that he committed against them, and for their patience and understanding in what has been a lengthy and complex investigation.

"Without them, we wouldn't have been able to achieve this conviction.

"We understand it is a difficult decision to make and we are fully supportive of anyone who reports an indecent or sexual assault, whether or not they choose to progress to court, and we will always provide as much assistance as possible to aid them gaining closure and convicting the offender."

Roger Woodward, senior crown prosecutor in CPS Yorkshire and Humberside's complex casework unit, said: "Gousul Islam was a family doctor - and as such he was placed in a position of absolute trust.

"Eight women and girls had that trust shockingly abused when he subjected them to innuendo, inappropriate touching, and sexual assault.

"I would like to pay tribute to the eight complainants who have displayed tremendous courage in giving evidence. As a result of our successful prosecution, Islam is now facing 11 years in prison for these appalling offences, and I would like that to send out a clear message that no-one, whatever their standing in society, is above the law.

"The CPS treats this type of offending extremely seriously, and I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of his kind of assault to come forward and report the matter to the police."

PA