Police probe assault complaint against rogue surgeon

LONDON: A complaint of sexual assault against rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson was investigated by police.

The allegation is understood to have come to light during the work of the Paterson Inquiry while it was separately investigating the circumstances that allowed the surgeon to carry out unnecessary operations.

Paterson is serving a 20-year jail sentence after being found guilty in 2017 of 17 counts of wounding patients with intent against 10 victims. In September 2017, more than 750 patients treated by Paterson received compensation payouts from a £37 million fund.

The inquiry’s chairman said the number of patients subjected to unnecessary treatment by Paterson could run to more than 1,000 people. The inquiry into Paterson’s malpractice was launched by the government in May 2018.

It published its final report on Tuesday when inquiry chairman the Rt Rev Graham James revealed that a matter arising from the panel’s work had been referred to West Midlands Police. The force confirmed it received a complaint of sexual assault against 62-year-old Paterson in May 2018 and passed it to Staffordshire Police, who opened an investigation.