County GP struck off after sex act
A "narcissistic" Shropshire GP who persuaded a teenage acne patient with learning difficulties to perform a sex act on him at his surgery was struck off the medical register today. A "narcissistic" Shropshire GP who persuaded a teenage acne patient with learning difficulties to perform a sex act on him at his surgery was struck off the medical register today. Dr Steven Ashenford, 34, abused his position of trust to gain gratification in a "most reprehensible way" with the sexually naive 17-year-old girl, a disciplinary panel ruled. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Dr Steven Ashenford, 34, abused his position of trust to gain gratification in a "most reprehensible way" with the sexually naive 17-year-old girl, a disciplinary panel ruled.
It added he had shown no insight into the damage his actions caused to the youngster.
Dr Ashenford struck up a friendship with the girl during appointments at the Sutton Hill Medical Practice in Telford to treat her acne and a bad back.
During one consultation in March 2007 he touched her breasts and remarked "that was nice". A week later he told her to remove her top and perform a sex act on him, the General Medical Council hearing was told.
He went on to buy her an iPod for her birthday and meet up in cafes where they "snogged and kissed". He was arrested in October 2007 on suspicion of raping the girl but no charges were brought by police.
Dr Ashenford, formerly of Priorslee, Telford, but who now lives in Aberdeen, denied any sexual relationship with the girl, known as Patient E, but admitted he had sex with two other patients while working at Oakengates Medical Practice in Telford in 2006 and at Sutton Hill a year later.
The GP also struck up a friendship with an 11-year-old girl when he worked at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, sending her 10 text messages a day.
The Fitness to Practise panel sitting in Manchester was told the doctor, who qualified at the University of Aberdeen in 2001, was married to an older Russian woman and they had a daughter who was brain damaged at birth.
It noted a consultant psychiatrist examined Dr Ashenford in February and concluded he had a "narcissistic" and "fundamentally flawed" personality.
Panel chairman Ralph Bergmann said: "The panel is of the view that you have no insight into the damage your actions caused to Patient E when you abused the trust she placed in you."
By Sarah Swinnerton
