Dentist struck off for indecency with nurses; Practitioner flashed leopard thong.

Byline: LAURA MAY

A CHESHIRE dentist has been struck off the dental register for groping a young nurse, flashing a leopard-print thong at another and giving a third a "wedgie".

Anthony Barton's conduct towards four women at the Red Rose Dental Group in Wigan was unprofessional and inappropriate, the General Dental Council ruled.

Striking him off the dental register, the tribunal chairman said: "You behaved inappropriately and unprofessionally towards four dental nurses who worked with you and your behaviour towards three of them was indecent."

The tribunal had heard that married Mr Barton, of Walnut Farm, Runcorn Road, Warrington, repeatedly grabbed the bottom of one of his nurses, known throughout the hearing as Miss D, and once touched her between the legs after she showed him a picture of herself in a fancy dress tutu.

The young woman, who was 22 at the time of last year's attacks, said her boss told her she should wear a thong so he could properly feel her bottom.

Mr Barton admitted to the tribunal having an affair with another of his nurses, who worked with him between 2002 and 2007.

He said they had sex twice at the clinic after hours and indulged in oral sex around 20 times.

He also admitted pulling down the waistband of his trousers to reveal a leopard print thong after a day's work. Mr Barton told the tribunal the underwear was meant as a joke after they had been discussing what he wore on the beach but the panel found his behaviour on surgery premises was unprofessional, inappropriate in indecent.

A third nurse, known as Miss A, claimed while she worked for Mr Barton between 2000 and 2002, he would regularly pull the back of her knickers up to give her a "wedgie" as she bent over to fetch instruments.

The dentist denied the claims but the panel decided Miss A was telling the truth.

The tribunal said that due to the seriousness of Mr Barton''s behaviour the only option open to them was to strike him from the register.

The chairman added: "Your behaviour was a serious breach of trust of several vulnerable employees.

"Furthermore, your conduct clearly demonstrates a system of sexual behaviour towards young females over a period of years.

"The committee is determined that public protection and the wider public interest outweigh the interests of any registrant in a case such as this which demonstrates a pattern of indecent and inappropriate sexual behaviour."