An Indian-origin heart surgeon has been sentenced to six years in prison in UK for sexually assaulting female colleagues over a period of five years. Amal Bose, 55, allegedly misused his senior position to assault women at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancaster.
Upon his arrest, the doctor told Lancashire Police that it was 'just flirting'. He usually targeted junior female staff who found it difficult to raise their voice against Bose because of his powerful position. He served as head of the cardiovascular surgery department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital but has now been suspended by the National Health Service (NHS) trust.
Bose often made remarks on women's appearances referring to some as 'fresh meat' and describing others as 'shaggable' on WhatsApp group, a BBC report said.
The 55-year-old Indian-origin surgeon even grabbed breasts of nurses who helped him prepare for surgery. "Dr Bose grabbed one nurse's breast as she was helping him prepare for surgery at the hospital," the UK’s Daily Mail reported.
One woman, who he targeted for three years, said she would go off sick to avoid him. She revealed in her statement that Bose had "touched every intimate part of me" for his gratification. The memory, she said, still "turns my stomach and makes me feel physically sick". The woman was reportedly in therapy for trauma and anxiety. Another woman disclosed she still wakes up with night terrors. "I felt isolated, vulnerable and deeply ashamed," she said.
Following complaints from staff, which triggered a police investigation in 2023, Bose was suspended. He then worked as a parcel delivery driver.
According to the Manchester Evening News, he was characterised during the trial as 'arrogant and crude', having sexually assaulted five members of his team. Lancashire Police charged Bose with 14 counts of sexual assault under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, relating to incidents involving six female colleagues between 2017 and 2022.
At Preston Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth told Bose that he had exploited his 'exalted position' to prey upon colleagues, operating under the belief that he could act 'with impunity'. Condemning Bose's conduct as "sexually charged, targeted and predatory," the judge said that the surgeon regarded female staff as being there "to satisfy your own sexual needs and urges," reported the Daily Mail.
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