A former GP who worked at a surgery in Romford has been convicted of a string of sexual offences against patients.

Following a trial which began in October, Manish Shah, 53, was found guilty of 25 sexual offences against four women on Wednesday, December 14.

Shah had previously been a well-regarded GP partner at Mawney Road medical practice in Romford.

For the latest crime news in east London, join our East London Crime Watch group on Facebook.

Shah made himself seem “friendly and helpful” and would call the women overly-familiar names such as “star”, “special girl” and his “favourite”.

Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC said: “It is submitted that his sexualised behaviour, the way he behaved towards the young women, illustrates that sexual gratification was his ultimate motivation – it certainly was not the health of the patients, when any competent GP would have realised that his examinations were not appropriate or justified.

“A family doctor is a position where trust is essential – a patient must place sufficient trust in the doctor to permit intimate examinations, so as to safeguard her health.

“The prosecution alleges that the defendant presented as a caring, considerate and solicitous doctor, prepared to go above and beyond for his patients, prepared to try and give the impression he was the only doctor prepared to carry out extra examinations, but that the evidence as a whole exposes that this was no more than a facade, and that he manipulated and abused the trust placed in him for his own sexual satisfaction.”

Sentencing was adjourned until January 9.

Reporting by PA.