Surgeon who sexually assaulted nurse on bus to be deported

Dundee Sheriff: Sandeep Patonde was ordered to pay his victim £1000.

A surgeon who sexually assaulted a student nurse on a bus in the grounds of a hospital is to be deported.

Sandeep Patonde attacked the woman, who cannot be identified, on the number 5 bus between Dundee city centre and Ninewells Hospital last September.

The orthapaedic surgeon sat down beside her, telling her he was a doctor who specialises in bones, then asked her for her name and mobile number.

But when she told him she did not own a mobile phone married Patonde, who comes from family of doctors, asked her: "You're scared of me, aren't you."

The 33-year-old then launched the sex attack, grabbing her top and trying to look down it before putting his hands on the terrified nurse's thighs.

Patonde then followed the woman back towards her residence, grabbing hold of her and branding her an "idiot" for being scared of him, then trying to kiss her.

The surgeon later told friends he had been "smooching" the woman and denied attacking her when collared by police.

Last month Patonde told Dundee Sheriff Court he wanted to pay compensation to his victim and avoid a jail term but a sheriff blasted him for "trying to buy his way out of jail".

He was remanded in custody for a month before being released on Wednesday to access cash to pay money to the woman.

But on Thursday Sheriff Alistair Duff ordered him to pay £1000 compensation and admonished Patonde on the charge.

He now faces being deported as his visa has now been revoked.

When police detained Patonde two days after the incident he told them: "I have not done any such thing, this is not correct."

Patonde, of Lister Court, Dundee, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman to her injury on September 30 last year.

Paddy O'Dea, defending, said Patonde's student visa would be terminated and he would be thrown out of the country as he had now been convicted of the offence.

He said: "He normally resides in Mumbai where his wife works as a doctor. He doesn't intend to ever return to the UK and doesn't know if he will ever be able to practice again, he certainly won't be in the UK or the EU. He is beside himself with remorse for his misconduct. He accepts it was motivated by his sexual desires. His period on remand has been significant for him, he's struggled with low mood and has been in contact with his wife three times a day. He wants to make a sincere and genuine apology to the lady and he hopes she can put it behind her as soon as possible."

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