A former Bracknell GP who has been found guilty of a string of indecent assaults against patients had been suspended for sexual misconduct and dishonesty previously - but he had avoided being struck-off as a doctor. 

At the end of a month-long case at Reading Crown Court earlier today, Dr Stephen Cox was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on multiple women from 1988 to 1997. 

The jury found him guilty of indecently assaulting one woman by placing several fingers inside her without wearing a protective glove, according to the testimony of the former patient. 

He was also found guilty of indecently assaulting one victim under the age of 14 when Dr Cox stroked her leg. 

Now it can be reported that the 65-year-old had been suspended as a doctor for nine months in 2010, following allegations of sexual misconduct and dishonesty at a practice in Handcross, West Sussex. 

The General Medical Council investigated and referred Dr Cox to a fitness to practise panel over allegations involving three different women from January 2007 to November 2009. 

The fitness panel found that Dr Cox had been "sexual motivated" when he had placed his hand inside a patient's bra during an examination, pushing his body against her rear, and deliberately touching a medical student's leg and arm.

In another incident, the panel found that he had told a patient that he was "making the most" of injecting her because "it's not very often I get to touch women's bottoms", or words to that effect.

The panel ruled that Dr Cox's "misconduct was not an isolated incident but was a series of incidents of sexually motivated behaviour towards patients."

 A legal representative from the GMC told the panel that Dr Cox had been warned about his behaviour by a member of his own practice - but je continued to act inappropriately towards younger colleague when she was under his tutelage. 

The GMC had submitted that Dr Cox should be erased due to risk to patient safety - but the panel said it was "proportionate" to suspend him from the medical register for nine months. 

In its ruling the panel said: "In the light of the facts admitted by you and found proved by the panel, there was misconduct and that it was serious. 

"In deciding on a period of nine months, the panel considers that this will give him sufficient time to reflect on his behavioural problems and to develop the appropriate insight into his conduct."

The GMC's legal representative had argued that Dr Cox’s conduct presented a risk to patients, particularly to female patients, and that he had brought the profession into disrepute.

The GMC now has the right to appeal against findings from medical tribunals - but the organisation did not have the right at the time of Dr Cox's tribunal.

The Professional Standards Authority, which did have the right to appeal at the time, did not challenge the decision. 

Dr Cox has not held a licence to practise since April 2016.