Consultant eye surgeon Samer Al-Diri jailed after grabbing nurse's breast

Bolton Crown Court heard how 44-year-old Samer Al-Diri, a consultant at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, had made a series of sexual remarks to the woman including asking whether she sunbathed naked and whether she had had a Brazilian wax.

The woman was afraid to complain to hospital authorities, thinking she not be believed against the word of a consultant and hoped his unwelcome behaviour would stop.

Then, in May last year, they met by chance outside the hospital and he followed her to her car parked a few minutes away.

Fearing the doctor's behaviour the woman secretly took a picture of him with her mobile phone to prove he was following her.

When she unlocked her car he opened the passenger door and got into the back seat, taking hold of her arm and trying to pull her into the rear of the vehicle. She resisted.

"You must have realised your advances were not welcome," Judge Richard Gioserano told Al-Diri.

But instead of leaving, Al-Diri climbed into the front passenger seat, touched her the nurse's shoulder, played with her hair bobble and hair and then undid her tunic and slipped his hand inside her bra.

When she pushed his hand away he got out of the car and walked off telling her to "keep it a secret".

"You did not think she would have the courage to make a public complaint about your behaviour," said the judge.

But the woman's mother called police after the victim returned home dishevelled and crying.

When questioned by police Al-Diri claimed the woman was lying but, following a trial earlier this month, a jury found the surgeon guilty of sexual assault.

Judge Gioserano, who jailed the doctor for eight months, told him that the photograph taken by his victim had been his "downfall."

He added that his behaviour had been an abuse of power.

"You knew the difference in power between you and you saw an opportunity to exploit it," he said.

"I do not think a suspended sentence can be justified here."

Al-Diri, of Burton Road, Didsbury, was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Simon Nichol, defending, stressed that Al-Diri was of previous good character.

He added that the Syrian born doctor came to England 19 years ago and worked at the hospital as a locum consultant.

He will never work as a doctor again. As a result of his conviction he was sacked and will be struck off the General Medical Council register. In addition the father-of-two's wife has left him.

Mr Nichol said Al-Diri's loss of income means he cannot now support his mother and sister in Syria and three other members of his extended family.

"In short, the consequences to him have been enormous," said Mr Nichol.

"The punishment he has suffered and will continue to suffer for the rest of his life is far more severe than any punishment the court can impose."

The court heard that Al-Diri now accepts his victim's account of what happened but Judge Gioserano rejected defence claims that the incident may have been the result of a "cultural misunderstanding".