GP is cleared of all sex charges

Dr Barkat Chowdhury, 62, of Telford was said to have molested the 14-year-old girl while his twin sons were playing in the bath.

But she only contacted police in July 2000 to complain about the alleged attack at a flat in Blackburn.

The doctor told the General Medical Council he could not remember anything that happened that long ago or even employing or seeing the girl.

The GMC committee in Manchester cleared him of the allegations and of the charge of serious professional misconduct.

They said: "Miss A first raised her complaint 21 years after the alleged event.

"This exceptionally long period of time has made it very difficult for all concerned to establish the true facts.

"In terms of the issues raised by the delay, the committee have had regard to this and the major conflict of evidence. The committee therefore find you cleared of serious professional misconduct."

The doctor was arrested as part of a Lancashire-police led Operation Nevada, an investigation into child sex rings. But he was never charged with a criminal offence and the complainant also had a history of psychological problems. It was claimed Dr Chowdhury attacked the girl in August 1979 at a flat provided by Blackburn Royal Infirmary for when he was on call.

She recalled being employed to care for his five-year-old sons at the family home in Parklands Way, Blackburn - although the doctor had denied knowing or employing the girl.

Miss A claimed the doctor arrived home early claiming he was on call and drove her to the flat. She said he put his five-year-old sons into a bath and then asked if he could change his trousers in front of her in the bedroom then groped and molested her.

She added: "I was frightened because I knew it was wrong."

The girl then left for home but never told anyone about the incident until four years ago.

She told the committee: "I was frightened they would have thought I was mad and take me away."

Dr Chowdhury, denied serious professional misconduct.