AN Atherton osteopath who sexually molested 11 male patients - including two GPs and a police constable - has been jailed for two and a half years.

The two doctor victims complained about their treatment at the hands of Stephen Milward to the General Osteopathic Council in 2002 but before disciplinary proceedings could take place he resigned.

The proceedings were consequently dropped and Milward thought that nothing further would happen about his indecent behaviour but last year police investigations led to Milward facing charges involving 13 male patients.

Fifty-year-old Milward stood trial on 12 allegations of indecent assault and a jury of six men and five women convicted him of all but one. Three of the

guilty verdicts were by a majority of 10-1.

Du

ring his 17 day trial the jury heard that the offences took place at his holistic clinic, The Natural Therapy Clinic in Atherton, beginning in about 1990.

Jailing him Judge Henry Globe, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, said, "You abused their trust in you as a professional osteopath by conducted massages of their groin areas which included deliberately touching their genitals with a sexual motive and intent."

He said that the offences spanned about 11 years ending in 2001 and almost all were specimens of many other occasions on which he indecently assaulted them in a similar manner.

Judge Globe added: "They spoke of feelings of shame, embarrassment, distress and humiliation and such feelings no doubt caused lack of complaint at the time and delay in making a formal complaint until a late stage."He ordered Milward to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Milward, of Hough House, Hough Street, Deane, Bolton, had been married with two daughters but his marriage came to end in March this year after he admitted he is gay and had had a sexual liasion with another man.