A FEMALE patient - in intense pain following years of internal problems - has told a disciplinary hearing how she put her trust in a Warrington Hospital doctor who allegedly groped her.

Dr Shakir Laher, from Blackburn, had visited the young woman, named only as Patient A, to perform a breast and internal examination while she was a patient at Warrington Hospital.

The tearful patient told a General Medical Council misconduct hearing: "I just wanted someone to help me."

Dr Laher, who denies all the misconduct charges, allegedly lifted up her hospital gown, without a nurse being present, and proceeded to indecently touch her breasts.

"He just would not stop. He just kept on going. I just thought it was odd that he was going for so long but I just didn't know what to do," Patient A told the hearing.

She later told the hearing Dr Laher performed an internal examination on her immediately afterwards without gloves.

Patient A, who had been in almost constant pain for two to three years with gynaecological problems, said that she didn't initially complain about Dr Laher's actions because she feared her concerns would not be taken seriously by medics.

But the woman, who was 20 at the time, did jot down her worries on some paper napkins, once Dr Laher had left the room, and later told her mother.

Another young woman has accused him of carrying out unnecessary internal examinations at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

He faces a number of misconduct allegations, dating back to 2004, which he denies. The hearing is expected to last 12 days.