A DISGRACED former surgeon who once worked for Blackpool Victoria Hospital has appeared before magistrates in London charged with the manslaughter of three Blackpool women.

Steven Walker, 46, of Everet Road, Camberley, Surrey, was charged with the manslaughter of 63-year-old Margaret Wilson in 1997, and 71-year-old Dorothy McPhee and Jean Robinson, 66, in 1995 -- all from the Fylde area.

Walker -- who appeared before the City of London Magistrates on Friday -- was also charged with theft of an operating theatre register worth £20 and attempting to pervert the course of justice by concealing the register from the police.

Walker, who was registered at Park Place, Leeds and live at Maritime Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston at the time, had trained in liver surgery at the Royal Liverpool University between 1993 and 1995.

But between 1995 and 1998, while he was working at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, he was found guilty of a series of allegations of misconduct.

He was later struck off the register by the General Medical Council in November 2001, but the decision was overturned on appeal to the Privy Council because of a 'procedural irregularity'.

When the case was re-heard in February this year Walker was banned from entering an operating theatre for the next three years.

District Judge Mrs Emma Ryder-Richardson remanded Walker on unconditional bail. He is to appear before the Central Criminal Court on Monday (June 23).