Manish Shah, 53, was sentenced today at the Old Bailey to two life sentences with a minimum term of ten years to run concurrently (Monday, 9 January). On Wednesday, 14 December, he was convicted of 25 counts of sexual assault following the conclusion of a trial at the same location. The court heard that from 2009 to July 2013, Shah used his position of trust as a Romford GP to persuade women to have invasive examinations when there was no medical need for them, all for his own sexual gratification. Each victim described Shah’s behaviour in a similar manner, claiming that he appeared to be a good doctor who was friendly and caring. Using his position and the relationship he had built with them, he persuaded the victims that they needed additional tests to determine if the minor conditions they had attended for were more serious. None of these examinations were required or requested by the patients. He purposefully misled the victims into believing that the examinations were required, and he completed them without justification. In addition to performing unnecessary examinations, Shah would go against protocol by not offering chaperones to accompany the victims during their appointments, leaving them alone with him to carry out these acts. “Shah is a serial predator who has targeted and caused great harm and pain to many people,” Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi said. I’d like to thank the victims once more for their bravery throughout this investigation. We do not tolerate violence against women and girls in any form and I hope this serves as another reminder that those who commit such offences will be found and justice will be served. I ask any person who is a victim of rape or sexual assault, regardless of when it happened to report it to police. We will take your allegations seriously and will be there for you throughout the process.”
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