A CONTROVERSIAL doctor once accused of assaulting a female patient as she tried to leave his East Lancashire surgery is set to appear before a medical watchdog charged with lying on oath.

Dr Abiodun Olumuyiwa Bale was originally convicted by a district judge sitting at Pennine Magistrates Court of attacking patient Sheena Cunningham at the Acorn Medical Centre in Accrington in March 2013.

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The GP was alleged to have acted after a disagreement between himself and Mrs Cunningham following a consultation at the Blackburn Road surgery over a facial infection, as she made to leave.

Dr Bale was said to have taken hold of her left forearm with both of his hands, pulled her once in an attempt to bring her back into the room, then pulled her a second time. Mrs Cunningham, said by witnesses to have been 'hysterical' then left.

But the Nigerian-born doctor, then living in the New Moston area of Manchester, was able to successfully appeal against his assault conviction at Burnley Crown Court.

Dr Bale said he wanted to try and explain that he was attempting to do his best for Mrs Cunningham and that he didn't want her to leave the consulting room at the time.

Allowing his appeal, Judge Simon Newell said he believed the doctor had not told the truth, in his account, but he could not determine there had been a 'hostile intent' on his part.

Now the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has summoned Dr Bale, who was on a placement at Hyndburn Medical Practice from the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, to appear before a fitness to practice panel from April 18 to 29.

A MPTS spokesman said: "The tribunal will inquire into the allegation that in March 2013, during consultations whilst working at Hyndburn Medical Practice, Dr Bale behaved inappropriately towards two patients and denied this on two occasions regarding the second patient.

"It is also alleged that in April 2014, Dr Bales' conduct was misleading and dishonest, in that he gave inaccurate and untrue statements in evidence at Burnley Crown Court."