Surgeon guilty of sexually assaulting colleagues

Amal Bose was head of cardiovascular surgery at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

A senior heart surgeon has been found guilty of sexually assaulting other hospital workers.

Amal Bose was convicted on 12 of the 14 charges he faced in relation to five women and cleared on charges relating to one woman at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

The prosecution said the 55-year-old had what was described as a "God-complex" and committed the offences because he was in a position of power.

Preston Crown Court heard Bose told police on his arrest that it was "only flirting" and that he was "sorry for everything".

The surgeon, from Thurnham near Lancaster, was head of the hospital's cardiovascular surgery department.

Some of Bose's victims called in sick to avoid him, police said

The trial had heard that Bose was the root cause of a "toxic and sexualised culture" at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Lancashire Police said.

His behaviours included touching women inappropriately and making sexualised comments.

Police said some of his victims were so affected by his behaviour that they moved roles to avoid him, changed work patterns or called in sick.

Bose will be sentenced on 15 September.