Senior doctor, 53, is spared jail after repeatedly groping nurses as court hears he previously threatened to kill his wife with scissors and hit a young child in the face
- Vijay Mahendran, 53, from Liverpool, was found guilty of seven offences today
- The senior doctor repeatedly groped nurses at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside
- Given 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court
Vijay Mahendran (pictured above) was jailed today
A senior doctor who repeatedly groped nurses and even carried out one assault in front of a dying patient has avoided jail.
Dr Vijay Mahendran, 53, from Liverpool, who was described as treating staff as though they were ‘worthless’, was found guilty of seven offences of sexual assault on two victims at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.
However the father-of-two, who denied his guilt and has since undertaken safeguarding courses, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court today.
Describing Mahendran’s ‘arrogant’ behaviour, which saw him take advantage of others and abuse his position as a senior doctor, Judge Denis Watson, QC, told him he displayed a ‘real split’ in his personality.
He said: ‘Despite your clinical ability you have a deeply flawed sense of what is acceptable sexual conduct at work.’
The judge, who stated that his sentencing remarks would be sent to the General Medical Council, continued: ‘You were in a position of authority which you completely betrayed and abused.’
Senior doctor Vijay Mahendran, 53, from Liverpool, was found guilty of seven offences of sexual assault on two victims at Whiston Hospital (pictured), Merseyside
‘There is a real split in your personality. To those who you respect you can be kind and considerate and for those you have no respect you are utterly dismissive and treat them as worthless.’
During the case, the jury heard how the senior doctor repeatedly grabbed and squeezed the buttocks of two colleagues.
The doctor also groped one of the nurses as she attended to a patient and their family before he was ‘dragged’ away by a member of staff who saw the incident take place.
The father-of-two, who denied his guilt, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) today
Christopher Stables, prosecuting, said the senior doctor’s actions, which saw him carry out six of the offences on one nurse and one on another nurse, were an ‘abuse on his position’.
The court also heard how the hospital doctor had previous convictions for common assault and battery after an attack on his ex wife in which he threatened to kill her with a pair of scissors.
In 2017, he was also fined £2,000 for hitting and leaving a bruise on a young child.
Following his trial, Mahendran was given a 12 month term suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 50 hours unpaid work and 60 days of rehabilitation activities.
The doctor will also have to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.