Grabbed breasts, groped staff: Indian-origin surgeon jailed in UK for sexual assault

A 55-year-old Indian-origin surgeon in the UK, who repeatedly groped female colleagues, has been sentenced to six years in prison and described by the court as "a sexual predator hiding in plain sight." Despite his professional reputation and surgical expertise, Amal Bose exploited his senior position to target junior staff members over a five-year period, between 2017 and 2022.

Bose, formerly head of the cardiovascular surgery department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire, was suspended by the Health Service (NHS) trust following complaints from staff, which triggered a police investigation in 2023. According to the Manchester Evening News, he was characterised during the trial as "arrogant and crude," having sexually assaulted five members of his team.

Victims testified that his seniority allowed a culture of inappropriate behaviour to persist, leaving them feeling powerless to challenge him.

"Dr Bose grabbed one nurse's breast as she was helping him prepare for surgery at the hospital," the UK’s Daily Mail reported.

Another woman said Bose groped her while reaching into her top pocket for a pen, calling her "fresh meat." A third colleague alleged that the father-of-five pulled down her top and remarked, "I thought that is where you put my cup of tea."

Following his suspension, Bose took up work as a parcel delivery driver, a stark fall from his once-prestigious medical career.

The disgraced consultant was further described in court as "highly sexualised." His conviction also adds to a troubling pattern: he is the sixth medical practitioner from the same Lancashire hospital to be jailed for serious criminal offences in the past two years.

'YOU WERE A SEXUAL PREDATOR': JUDGE TO BOSE

At Preston Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth told Bose that he had exploited his "exalted position" to prey upon colleagues, operating under the belief that he could act "with impunity." The judge condemned his conduct as "sexually charged, targeted and predatory," adding that Bose regarded female staff as being there "to satisfy your own sexual needs and urges," according to the Daily Mail.

"The reality is you were a sexual predator hiding in plain sight," Judge Unsworth said.

While acknowledging that Bose had been a "dedicated, highly-skilled surgeon" to whom many patients owed their lives, the judge stressed that this did not mitigate the gravity of his offences. Noting that Bose had shown "no genuine remorse," Judge Unsworth sentenced him to six years in prison, the London-based tabloid reported.

AMAL BOSE CONVICTED ON 12 COUNTS

Lancashire Police charged Bose with 14 counts of sexual assault under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, relating to incidents involving six female colleagues between 2017 and 2022.

His defence barrister, Tom Price KC, said, "It is fair to say if they hadn't before, the scales have fallen from his eyes and he appreciates the gravity of his conduct over that period of time."

All the victims were members of staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, police confirmed. The hospital formally alerted authorities on March 14, 2023, after multiple complaints of sexual assault were raised internally.

Following a detailed investigation and consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, prosecutors proceeded with the case against him.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted Bose on 12 counts of sexual assault against five women, while acquitting him of two further charges, the Daily Mail reported.

During the trial, the court was told that Bose had attempted to downplay his actions, telling police at the time of his arrest that it was "only flirting." In a subsequent interview, he added he was "sorry for everything," according to the BBC.

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