A “highly manipulative” consultant gynaecologist has been convicted of groping four women during consultations.

Mahesh Patwardhan of Alderton Hill, Loughton, would typically bend female patients over an examination couch and fondle their breasts from behind, even asking one woman to reveal her tattooed bottom.

The jury at Woolwich Crown Court were told Patwardhan, 53, was turned on by rubbing himself against the women as he groped them.

He saw private patients at The Holly hospital in Buckhurst Hill High Road as well as The Blackheath Hospital and NHS patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlton.

He was convicted of four counts of sexual assault between July 31, 2008 and September 24, 2012.

Patwardhan, who is married to an anaesthetist, was also convicted of two counts of fraud relating to falsely billing private medical insurers for work he did not do.

After the jury’s verdicts, detective constable Mark Azariah said: “Patwardhan is a highly manipulative individual, having used his position of trust and authority to prey on the victims under his medical care, believing that they would be too embarrassed to report such offences to police.

“Thankfully he was mistaken and I commend the victims for their courage in speaking out despite the sensitivity surrounding their personal medical concerns.

“I hope that today's result and the fact he is no longer a practising doctor brings them some comfort and peace of mind in what has been a traumatic ordeal.”

The already disgraced doctor had been struck off by the General Medical Council in October 2014 and publicity from that case prompted more victims to come forward.

An investigation was launched by the Metropolitan Police and Patwardhan was arrested on November 20 2014, as he stepped off a flight from India at Heathrow Airport.

His groping attacks on the women involved were described in detail during the hearing which began over three weeks ago.

Patwardhan will be sentenced on July 26.