Doctor jailed for sexually assaulting female patients

A doctor who sexually and indecently assaulted two of his patients and another woman has been jailed, the Crown Prosecution Service said today.

Kanval Nagpal, a 61-year-old GP, invited one of the patients to his home under false pretences in summer 2008.

There, he spoke to her about oral sex before rubbing himself up against her on an exercise machine, on the kitchen work surface and outside his downstairs toilet.

He also pushed her on to his bed, claiming he was going to rape her, and asked her if she wanted to earn money by having sex with English people he knew, Hertfordshire CPS said.

The doctor, from Gladding Road, Cheshunt, Herts, indecently assaulted the other patient in November 1994, when he inappropriately touched her genitals.

He sexually assaulted a third woman in summer 2008.

He was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault at St Albans Crown Court and was yesterday handed a 16-month prison sentence.

The jury acquitted Nagpal of three other counts of indecent assault, a court official said.

Susan Krikler, CPS Hertfordshire reviewing lawyer, said: "Patients came to see Mr Nagpal for medical advice.

"He abused his position of authority and trust by relying on his patients' respect for his position as a medical practitioner to protect him from detection.

"He assaulted his victims and, when challenged, denied behaving in any way other than in line with his professional standards."

She thanked the victims for coming forward to make complaints.

"Without them we would not have been able to secure the convictions," she added.