A doctor, who worked at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), has been removed from the medical register after he was found to have sexually harassed a colleague.

Dr Jawad Ahmad – who at the time of the events was practicing as a trust grade doctor in urology - was not present for the misconduct hearing by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) last month.

Ahmad was accused of behaving "inappropriately" towards a colleague, named in proceedings as Ms A, in 2020 including sending text messages, asking her to have dinner with him, and asking to collect her from her house.

The tribunal "determined and found proved" that on 11 June 2020, Ahmad asked to speak to Ms A under the pretence of discussing WhatsApp messages, before hugging, massaging and kissing her.

The tribunal found that the actions were sexually motivated but did not find that they were an abuse of a more senior position.

The decision report stated: "The tribunal accepted that Dr Ahmad's actions had created an intimidating, hostile, degrading and humiliating environment for Ms A.

"Considering the evidence and the Tribunal's previous findings as set out above, it concluded that Dr Ahmad's actions did constitute sexual harassment".

The tribunal also heard how the trust received a letter from the police advising them that Ahmad had been arrested on 20 June 2020 for a sexual assault on a female under the age of 16.

On 22 June, Ahmad had been offered an extension to his contract with the trust which he had signed without informing anyone of his arrest.

Ahmad had not engaged with the GMC or provided a statement for the tribunal, but according to the decision report, an email sent to the Trust on 24 July 2020 from Ahmad's BMA representative outlined his position.

The report said: "Dr Ahmad was reported as saying that, on 20 June 2020, after he was released by police, he was in shock. He said that his line manager was on leave and he wanted to speak to him face to face about it. He said that in hindsight should have phoned somebody, but he was in shock and not thinking clearly."

The tribunal concluded that Ahmad's name should be erased from the medical register explaining "no lesser sanction was sufficient to protect the public".

The decision report stated: "The Tribunal considered that the risk was not limited to harm to colleagues but extended to patients and to the wider public, particularly given the sexual nature of the allegations and the absence of evidence demonstrating that the underlying risk had been adequately addressed.

"The nature and seriousness of the dishonesty and sexual misconduct, and in particular the high risk of repetition, led the Tribunal to consider that there remained a significant risk that, if Dr Ahmad were permitted to return to unrestricted practice, patients and colleagues could be exposed to harm."

In a statement to the BBC, Dr Diane Adamson, chief medical officer at UHNM, said: "We actively encourage anyone affected to come forward," she said. "Every concern will be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and met with appropriate support.

"We will always act on what we find - including referral to the police where necessary - and we will hold those responsible to account."

The BBC reported that Dr Adamson said the trust had a zero tolerance approach towards sexual violence and abuse.

To read the full decision, visit the MPTS website here.