Cardiac surgeon Amal Bose was convicted of 12 counts of sexually assaulting staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Amal Bose abused his position as a senior consultant (Image: Lancashire Constabulary)
A heart surgeon described as ‘arrogant and crude’ molested five members of staff working in his department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Senior consultant and head of the cardiovascular department, Amal Bose, abused his position to sexually assault younger women who worked in roles less senior to his.
Bose’s victims said due to his seniority in the department, they worked in ‘a culture of inappropriate behaviour that went unchallenged’. Huw Edwards, prosecuting, told a sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court that staff members described Bose’s behaviour as ‘beyond workplace jokes’.
“It was sexual targeting of females – and mainly younger females,” he said.
One of Bose’s victims told the court she was groped by the surgeon as she scrubbed up ahead of surgery. On another occasion, shortly after she joined the department, Bose rested his head on her shoulder, leaving her worried what other staff members would think about the relationship between them, she said.
“She said there was a toxic environment in the department, and Amal Bose was the root cause,” Mr Edwards said.
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Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Another victim was groped in an operating theatre as she helped the consultant prepare for an operation. After putting his gloves on, Bose ‘purposefully’ grabbed her breast, the court heard.
One woman said Bose groped her breast as he helped himself to a pen from her top pocket. She said Bose referred to her as ‘fresh meat’ and would often stand too close to her, making inappropriate comments.
She said she reported it to a colleague but the incident was ‘never spoken of again.’
Another described how he had pulled her top down, exposing her chest and bra. “From that point she changed her view of him from something harmless to something more,” Mr Edwards said.
One victim said Bose’s behaviour was ‘a well-known fact’ and new employees were warned about him. She said Bose touched her inappropriately ‘every time she saw him’ leaving her frightened and anxious. She developed a ‘terrible’ sickness record and altered her working pattern to try to avoid him.
Bose, 55, of Main Road, Thurnham, Lancaster was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault relating to five female members of staff at the hospital between 2017 and 2022, at a trial in June. He was cleared of two other counts.
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.”
As a result of his offending, Bose has lost his career and now works as a parcel delivery driver. The hearing continues and he will be sentenced on Tuesday September 16.
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