Doctor convicted of giving patients breast massages - to cure their hair loss

Leading hair consultant Praminder Mankoo told his victims they needed stress relieving massages to help with their scalp problems but instead groped their breasts under the guise of 'treatment'.

After a two week trial, the father-of-four was found guilty in the Oxford Crown Court of three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.

The verdict brought back terrifying memories for victim Rayne Franklin, 48, who visited his clinic in Thame, Oxfordshire in 1998.

Horror memories: Rayne Franklin was sexually assaulted by hair consultant Praminder Mankoo 10 years ago - he has now been found guilty of massaging women's breasts at his Thame clinic

She wanted reassurance that her hair loss did not run in the family.

Ms Franklin, of Windsor, Berkshire, said: 'He began to massage my shoulders and slowly his hand crept down until he had a full hold of my breast. Then he ripped off his coat and stripped naked.

'He pushed my face into his genitals and made a disgusting comment about seeking satisfaction,' she said.

'I was terrified but I knew I couldn't confront him because the door was locked, there was no one around.'

When Ms Franklin tried to escape, she said Mankoo grabbed her face and tried to drag her head down.

'There was a point where I thought he was going to strangle me because he had his hands around my throat.'

He finally let Ms Franklin go, but the ordeal was not quite over.

As she hurriedly put her clothes back and made for the exit, Mankoo asked for payment, and said she needed to be booked in for another appointment.

'I couldn't believe it, but I nonchalantly paid up as though it was the most normal thing in the world.'

Ms Franklin said when Mankoo was cautioned by police 10 years ago, she thought it would be the end of it.

'I couldn't believe it when I heard that he had continued to prey on innocent clients.

'Looking back I wish I had spoken publicly about it when it happened and maybe he could have been stopped earlier.'

The court heard that Mankoo of Thame, Berkshire, would tell women to strip to their underwear to avoid getting massage oil on their clothes.

He would then rub their scalp, neck and shoulders, and reach around to touch their breasts.

One woman told how Mankoo had removed her bra and also massaged her thighs and feet.

Keeping her eyes tightly shut during the experience, out of fear, she opened them to see Mankoo dressed only in his boxer shorts.

Another woman said he had told her that her boyfriend could not help her and that he would be her 'knight in shining armour', to whom she should look to for strength.

Mankoo asked another victim if she would like to meet his 'little friend'.

The victim told the court that she even resorted to telling Mankoo she had been sexually abused as a child to try and fend off his advances.

Chairman of the Institute of Trichologists told the court categorically that no 'massage to help circulation to the scalp should even go to the front of the shoulders, let alone the breast area'.

Defending Mankoo, Christine Agnew said her client needed time to 'put his house in order' before sentencing.

'Mr Mankoo has four children, and he is the sole breadwinner in his house. There will have to be some very particular decisions in the very near future.'

Judge Mary Jane Mowat agreed to bail for him until next month, on the condition that he did not offer any form of massage except for the scalp and not to administer any treatment at his clinic if another female was not present.