AFTER 18 hours of deliberation, the jury in an indecent assault trial with a former GP in the dock was discharged after struggling to reach verdicts.

Judge Sarah Campbell dismissed the jury at Reading Crown Court on Monday last week (March 20) after only one verdict had been reached following the three-week long trial.

The trial saw a former GP charged with eight counts of indecent assault against seven different women between 1990 to 1997.

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The now retired Stephen Cox, 67, worked at Ralph Rides Surgery in Bracknell, now known as the Waterfield Practice, more than two decades ago and denies the allegations.

It is the Crown’s case that Cox has committed a range of sexual offences including touching a woman’s breasts underneath her bra, touching a woman’s nipples and digital penetration of another woman.

However, taking the stand Cox told the jury that patients had ‘misunderstood’ his style of practice and ‘misremembered’ the events.

The jury acquitted him on one count of indecent assault but failed to reach a verdict on the other seven counts.

However, despite being given a majority verdict guideline from Judge Campbell, the jury foreman told the court that no further deliberation would help the group reach a decision and they were subsequently dismissed.

As a result, the Crown confirmed yesterday (March 27) that they will retry Cox at the same court with only seven counts of indecent assault, taking into consideration the jury’s previous verdict.

READ MORE: 'Breast examinations with no bra are good practice' says GP on trial for assault

Prosecutor Tahir Khan confirmed that there are still six complainants in the case, all of whom are willing to give evidence again.

Retrials are granted for the most ‘serious high-profile cases’, such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping and sex crimes and be granted for a majority of reasons, one being if a jury has failed to reach a verdict.

The same legal counsel will come to court again, including the Mr Khan, defence Michael Rawlinson and Judge Campbell, and Cox will face the same charges but new evidence can be called. 

A completely new jury will be sworn in but if the jury again fail to reach a verdict then it is unlikely there will be a further retrial. A third trial is only considered in ‘very exceptional circumstances’.

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If this occurs, Cox will be acquitted of all charges.

A retrial has now been listed for September 28 this year at the same court. Cox will remain on bail during this time.