In a room where they should have felt safe, with a person they should have been able to trust, they were taken advantage of.
He was the person they looked to when they were at their most vulnerable.
In confidence, and with the support of their community behind them, they each visited the doctor with the hope that he could address their most intimate problems.
Instead, he abused them. Frightened, with real concerns of being ostracised from within Manchester’s orthodox Jewish community, they remained silent.
Following multiple trials, Dr Wayne Davis was convicted of carrying out the most vile abuse on two of his patients. Legal restrictions meant that the case could not be fully reported until its conclusion.
As he begins his eight-year jail term, the Manchester Evening News has looked into the background of the case.
The highly-respected doctor that people were told to trust
Working as a GP in Salford, the doctor was well-respected and well-thought of. Both in secular society and the orthodox Jewish community.
A large number of his patients were from the same community, and were advised by the elders to see him for their health problems.
And so, the first woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – visited Dr Davis. She was just married, and had recently moved up to the north west.
As a member of the Chassidic orthodox Jewish community, she strictly observed her faith. As a child, she was not taught about sex and could not learn about sexual matters from books, the television or the internet.
She would take advice about every aspect of her life from the Rabbis, as was the tradition. There were clear rules about dating, and once engaged, advice about sex was given by same sex members of the community.
In her own words, she was ‘naïve’ before getting married to her husband in the 2000s.
The day before her wedding, she went to see Dr Davis, with her mother. He prescribed her medication to ensure she wasn’t menstruating when she got married.
However, afterwards, she found sex painful. She was advised to visit the doctor but initially refused. The issues continued and she went back to Dr Davis with her mum.
Her mum asked if she had suffered a miscarriage.
“No it’s not – it’s the bedroom,” he told her. Embarrassed and intimidated by his abruptness, she didn’t ask what he meant.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Still experiencing pain, she was urged to return, and was told she must trust Dr Davis. She would later tell the police she felt like she had to behave like a ‘good girl’, and follow the advice.
She went alone, as nobody was available to go with her. There was no chaperone, and the doctor would shut the door when she attended. Her religion did not allow for her to be alone with anyone from the opposite sex, except her husband.
Without explanation, he told her he was going to ‘stretch’ her. No medical tools were used during the interaction.
He told her to lie down and remove her lower clothing before molesting her, with the woman describing him to be like a ‘whisk with his fingers’. It was painful, and Dr Davis did not explain what he was doing or why he was doing it.
“She felt traumatised by what happened. She knew what happened felt wrong and bad,” prosecutor Vanessa Thomson told a court.
She was haunted. It was frowned upon within the community to make negative comments about people, so she did not report it.
She didn’t go back to see the doctor until she fell pregnant and changed GP when she was prescribed contraception years later.
She never spoke of what happened, and was worried about speaking out against such a well-respected man.
It was only when she confided in her beauty therapist that she garnered the courage to speak out. With no knowledge of the court system, she was assisted by a charity for those with similar trauma within the Jewish community.
It was then she reported matters to the police. During their investigation, police recovered her medical records, with her consent.
One record stated the medical issue, adding: “Stretched and advised”.
A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist said ‘it is a bizarre concept with no grounding in gynaecological practice’.
‘…What is any woman in the world going to do who’s got a problem like that right? Work it out’
Dr Davis was arrested at his home on Old Hall Road, and gave a prepared statement to interviewing officers.
He confirmed that a large number of his patients were strictly orthodox Jews who are ‘ignorant to sex education’ until they get engaged. He added that some patients had difficulties when they were first married and will ‘decide to consult with their GP’.
Dr Davis also said that he was aware there were ‘rumours about him’ from within the community.
In a later interview he was asked about the medical notes and said that ‘stretching’ the vagina was a ‘reasonable thing to do when a female was having problems with intimacy’.
When he was asked if the GMC would approve of the practice, he said: “…What is any woman in the world going to do who’s got a problem like that right? Work it out.”
Following on from his arrest, a story was published in a Jewish newspaper. It was then that a second woman, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, came forward.
She got married in the 1990s, and did have ‘marriage preparation lessons’ prior to her wedding night, but was naive in her understanding of sex.
“She had simply been told by her mother that sex would probably not hurt her because she had been involved in exercise as a girl, which should make the sex less painful,” Ms Thomson would later tell a jury.
The woman would later say that her wedding night was a ‘bit of a shock’ to her and her husband as neither of them knew what they were doing.
She was concerned about a health problem in an intimate area and was encouraged to see Dr Davis. There was no nurse or chaperone during the visit.
Dr Davis told her to remove her lower clothing before ‘examining her’. He then offered to check if she was still a ‘bethulah’. She later learned this was the Hebrew word for ‘virgin’.
She asked the doctor if the examination was ‘necessary’ as she found intercourse painful, and he replied: “Yes, it’s useful, a good idea”.
With that she put her trust in him.
She felt uncomfortable, and afterwards, he said she was ‘healthy’.
The woman said she felt embarrassed and humiliated, and said it had affected her relationship with her husband.
Years later she confided in her daughter, a midwife, who confirmed her fears that the examination was not necessary.
Medical notes obtained by the police confirmed that she had attended the surgery, and an examination had taken place, though there was nothing in the notes to say she had been ‘internally examined’.
Dr Davis was later interviewed by the police about the woman’s allegations. He confirmed there would have been ‘no need’ to perform an internal examination in the circumstances she presented with. He added that he had no specific memory of carrying out an examination of her hymen but said this was something he had done in the past at the request of his patients.
Dr Wayne Davis was jailed for eight years
(Image: GMP)
Dr Davis was charged with offences against both women, and a third complainant. All matters came to trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Both women gave evidence, unusually in ‘closed court’ settings, to best support them in giving their evidence. This was agreed by both the Crown and defence for Dr Davis.
At the conclusion, there were mixed verdicts, with him being convicted of indecent assault and assault by penetration. On the offences jurors were unable to reach a verdict on, prosecutors sought a retrial. He was remanded into custody.
With that came reporting restrictions, banning reporting any of the facts of the verdicts in the first trial, and anything from the re-trial.
In December last year, he was acquitted of assault by penetration, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
Fast forward to January 13, in another closed courtroom, and only the sound of a woman in despair filled the space. She wept as she recounted the trauma she had suffered at the hands of her doctor.
“I feel broken and damaged,” she choked. In the background, her support worker could be heard telling her to ‘take some deep breaths’ as she continued on.
“Dr Davis violated me in a way I cannot forget and the trauma stays with me every single day.”
As the hearing progressed, the Manchester Evening News applied to lift the reporting restrictions, allowing for the case, and Dr Davis’ convictions to be fully reported.
Jailing Dr Davis, who kept his head bowed throughout the hearing, 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.”
‘Davis’ actions are truly horrific and shocking, he was in a position of power and used this for his own sexual gratification’
Detective Sergeant Charlotte Sullivan of GMP’s City of Salford district, said: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victims and survivors for how they have so bravely come forward to speak of their experiences and also for their continued support during our investigation and through the trial. This was a long and distressing process for them to endure.
“I would also like to thank our partner agencies in Salford who supported the victims and assisted our investigation which helped put Wayne Davis behind bars.
“Davis’ actions are truly horrific and shocking, he was in a position of power and used this for his own sexual gratification.
“His actions showcases a complete abuse of trust and power. He took advantage of the women in a time when they needed reassurance. He knowingly did not follow the guidance of the GP’s chaperone policy and sexually assaulted lone women in his place of work with no regard for their wellbeing whatsoever, they were seeking his advice as a medical professional for personal and private matters.
“We understand how much concern will be felt in the local community and across Greater Manchester and we would like to take this as an opportunity to assure members of the public that incidents like these are extremely rare. We continue to work closely with medical practises and the local trusts, staff, the local authority, and support organisations to ensure that patients feel safe and supported.
“This case demonstrates the seriousness with which we deal with any reports of sexual assaults or inappropriate behaviour. No matter when it happened or where it took place, we will investigate, we will support you and we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”
‘It is never too late to seek justice’
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.”
A spokesperson for the General Medical Council (GMC) said that Dr Davis is currently interim suspended whilst the GMC investigates. The case will be referred to a medical practitioners tribunal at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) following the conviction and sentence.
Speaking after the case, Erica Marks, CEO of Jewish Sexual Abuse Support (JSAS) said: “I am in awe of the bravery of our clients, especially our first client, for their initial reporting of this crime, this then led directly to the second client speaking of their own experience.”
“I must thank colleagues at GMP and the CPS as they have supported our clients from the outset and have worked with us and our clients as a team.”
“This has been a gruelling experience for the victims across a very lengthy process. the criminal justice process presents many problems for those reporting sexual abuse, and to remain committed to the conclusion of this action is testament to the bravery of all who speak out. This case has shown that collaborative working is key to achieving healthy outcomes for those affected by sexual abuse.”
Where to get help.
St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre offers support to men, woman and children who have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk.
We Are Survivors provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. They can be reached on 0161 236 2182.
Jewish Sexual Abuse Support (JSAS) provides support, help and advice for men, woman and children within the Jewish community. Call them on 07519980774 or email them on info@jsas.org.uk.