A DOCTOR convicted of molesting two teenage girls has been jailed for three months and now faces professional ruin.

Culcheth GP Moustafa Abdelnabi, aged 52, will be hauled before the General Medical Council after finishing the sentence imposed by Judge John Rogers QC at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday.

Passing sentence, Judge Rogers told him he was responsible for the girls' wellbeing in each case and had betrayed the trust placed in him by their parents.

But defence lawyer Peter Buckley claimed 2,000 of the doctor's patients had signed a petition backing his client and supporters had to be persuaded against protesting with banners outside the courthouse.

Mr Buckley said: "Quite appropriately he did not want that. As far as his professional career is concerned it is unlikely he will be able to practise in this country in the foreseeable future."

North Cheshire Health authority had decided the doctor's practice should be taken over by another GP. But Abdelnabi still wanted to return to medicine at some point after his release, he told the court.

Mr Buckley said at the time of the offences the defendant's marriage had broken up, he faced mounting debts and had turned to drink.

Prosecutor Rhys Rowlands told the jury during the trial most of the offences were related to alcohol and the doctor's liberal attitude towards under-age drinking.

The first offence concerned a 12-year-old girl who Abdelnabi forced to commit an indecent act while his own daughter slept in the same bed. The victim buried her head in a pillow and pretended to be asleep until the ordeal was over.

On another occasion a 14-year-old girl was in a similar situation when the defendant entered her bedroom and molested her underneath bedclothes.

A spokesman for North Cheshire Health said the authority had assumed control of Abdelnabi's surgery and a locum GP had been installed.

He added: "Our main concern is to ensure that patients continue to receive a full range of quality services and the arrangements put in place will help us to achieve that."

General Medical Council spokeswoman Phillippa Hanson said the doctor would eventually come before a preliminary hearing and could face four courses of action.

The council may take no action, give the doctor a warning, start health procedures if the doctor is suffering from an ailment or refer him to the Professional Conduct Committee.

Miss Hanson added: "It is difficult to speculate what will happen as this may prejudice the case. But convictions are taken very seriously, particularly when they involve the betrayal of trust."

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