A DOCTOR behaved like an "intemperate bully" the day he attacked two of his staff, a judge said.

Dr Rajendra Sinha (56), from Prestwich, was convicted of two offences of common assault after a two-day hearing before Manchester magistrates.

Victims Carole Moran (39) and Marjorie Soames (57), managers at St George's Medical Centre, Moston, burst into tears on hearing the verdicts.

The court heard how he grabbed Mrs Moran and shook her like a rag doll and pushed her colleague when she went to her aid.

Dr Sinha, of The Stables, Prestwich, was a former partner in the practice. He was fined £1,000, with £750 court costs, and ordered to pay the women £150 each in compensation.

District Judge Alan Berg told him: "You were out of control and acted like an intemperate bully. It was totally unacceptable behaviour towards people who had given you long and loyal service.

"The picture painted by the witnesses is that you are a bad tempered, petulent, and irritable man who was lacking in your professional duties to your patients.

"You couldn't cope with the problems of the practice and cracked under the strain."

The assaults took place in the kitchen at the centre in November last year after the doctor arrived for work in an angry and aggressive mood.

When Mrs Moran told him she was leaving and going home, he grabbed her and she began screaming hysterically.

The judge rejected Dr Sinha's evidence that the assaults never happened and that the women had lied to get him out of the practice. He had denied both charges.

Passing sentence, Judge Berg added: "You couldn't face the prospect of your manager walking out because she had had enough of your behaviour and bad language.

"I have no doubt you took out your frustrations on these women and assaulted them."

Dr Sinha will now have to appear before the General Medical Council. He has been suspended since January.

His solicitor Duncan McDiamid said: "The ramifications for his career are considerable."