A ‘highly respected’ senior doctor has been found GUILTY of sexually abusing two female patients.
Dr Wayne Sefton Davis, a GP in Salford, carried out the vile acts against the women during ‘invasive’ examinations on them during the 1990s and 2000s. Prosecutors stated there was no medical basis for his actions during the examinations.
Dr Davis, 67, denied all wrongdoing, but following two trials he was found guilty of indecent assault and assault by penetration. Reporting restrictions were imposed following the first trial, meaning it could not be reported that he had been found guilty of the offences.
Following the conclusion of a retrial, he was acquitted of another offence. At a sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court today (January 13) after an application to lift reporting restrictions by the Manchester Evening News, the case can now be fully reported.
Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, said that the victims were from the Orthodox Jewish community and “were not brought up learning about sex and sexual behaviours at school as might be expected in secular society”.
The women had limited knowledge and put their complete trust in a respected man they had been told ‘knew best’, which provided ‘fertile ground’ for Dr Davis to abuse each of them.
The first complainant said she went to see the doctor in the 2000s after complaining of pain in her genitals. She claimed the doctor made a ‘highly inappropriate comment’, before using his fingers to ‘stretch’ her vagina.
“She had no idea what was happening,” Ms Thomson said. “In her words to the police, she thought it was bananas what he was doing.”
She said that the doctor sexually assaulted her again by touching her genitals. “She said that she felt traumatised by the whole experience,” Ms Thomson said, adding that the complainant was ‘haunted’ by what she said happened to her.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The woman later reported her allegations to police. Jurors were told that a gynaecologist described the practice of ‘stretching’ as a ‘bizarre concept with no grounding in gynaecological practice’.
After details of Dr Davis’ arrest were published in news reports, another woman came forward to report that she had been abused by him in the 1990s.
She said she went to the doctor after experiencing an issue with her genitals. Woman B said that the doctor inserted his finger into her vagina. She said she felt ‘uncomfortable’ but trusted the doctor.
The complainant said the examination had ‘stayed with her all these years’ and that it had left her feeling ’embarrassed and humiliated’. Prosecutors said the examination was carried out ‘without any medical basis’.
In a victim personal statement, the first complainant said: “Dr Davis’ actions greatly affected my faith and ability to trust people. Especially doctors.
“This has been and continues to be a very heavy burden on me.”
She added that her marriage had come to an end as a result of the abuse, and she had suffered mental, physical and emotional pain.
In brief mitigation, Sarah Elliott KC said Dr Davis was highly respected in the community. She added that he had been in custody for over a year since the convictions.
Jailing Davis for eight years, Judge Peter Horgan said: “Your convictions vividly demonstrate how you abused the trust placed in you by those ladies and your community.
“You decided to do what you wanted without regard.”
Dr Davis, of Old Hall Road, Salford, was also made subject of the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Gill Petrovic, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s rape and serious sexual offence unit, said: “Wayne Davis was in a position of trust as a doctor and a highly respected man within the community. He abused his position to commit sexual offences against women under his care.
“The CPS worked with Greater Manchester Police to support the women through the prosecution. We applied to the court for special measures so the women could give their evidence in the best way for them, so they did not have to face the man who had abused them.
“I would like to thank the women for supporting the prosecution and hope they can move forward knowing Davis has now been sentenced.
“I hope this case will give other survivors of sexual abuse the confidence to come forward. It is never too late to seek justice.”