GP 'kept moving round' jacuzzi towards women

May 29 2008

A HAMILTON doctor charged with touching a woman inappropriately at a health suite followed her around a jacuzzi, a court has heard.

Dr Soma Sudershan Reddy (65), of Brigside Gardens, denied two allegations of sexually aggravated breach of the peace at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.

Dr Reddy, a GP for the past 28 years, works at the Manse Road Medical Centre in Newmains.

It is alleged that between September 1 and October 31, 2006, at the LivingWell Health and Fitness Suite at the Hilton Hotel in Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill, Dr Reddy conducted himself in a disorderly manner by sitting in close proximity to the woman and touching her leg.

It is further alleged that on August 6, 2007, Dr Reddy again sat close to the same woman and touched her leg.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, the doctor’s trial commenced after months of legal preparation.

His alleged victim, who is in her 30s, was asked about the first incident in 2006 by fiscal depute Emma Toner.

The witness said: “I was in the jacuzzi sitting with a friend. A man came in and sat right next to me. He kept his hands under the water. He touched the back of my right leg and my bottom.

“At first, I thought it was an accident but the longer it went on I felt it was intentional.”

The woman told the court she reported the alleged incident to a man at the reception of the Bellshill Health Club.

She identified Dr Reddy, who was sitting in the dock, as the man who allegedly touched her.

The woman then gave evidence about the second alleged incident on August 6, 2007.

On this occasion, she was sitting in the jacuzzi with a female friend and a man who works at the health club.

She claimed that Dr Reddy entered the jacuzzi and sat next to her, and that when she appeared distressed, her female friend moved around the jacuzzi in the opposite direction to create some space.

The woman added: “We kept moving round but then he kept moving round. I felt very uncomfortable. I don’t think it was accident when it had happened more than once.”

In his evidence, the health club employee added: “The gentleman took a noticeable move towards the two women in the jacuzzi. They were both looking concerned and alarmed. He then moved again in close proximity to the women, close enough for skin contact. I didn’t know what to say, I was so embarrassed.”

He also identified Dr Reddy as the man allegedly involved.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the second alleged incident.

Andrew Lamb QC, defending Dr Reddy, commented throughout how there was always space between Dr Reddy and the women. He also suggested that Dr Reddy appeared to be moving his back to have full use of the water jets.

Mr Lamb QC asked the alleged victim: “May it be that you are mistaken what was happening there?” She simply replied: “No”.

Following the conclusion of the Crown’s case, Mr Lamb QC called Dr Reddy to the witness stand.

The doctor told the court how he was using the health club at the time of the 2007 alleged incident to prepare for a charity trek for the St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.

Sheriff Joyce Powrie then adjourned the trial until a date in June for Dr Reddy’s defence case to be continued.

Hamilton Advertiser, page 1, September 27 2007