Therapist accused of assaults on patients can keep practising

Derek Gale, 59, was banned from practising as an arts therapist by the Health Professions Council while it investigated a string of allegations against him as he posed "a significant potential risk of harm to clients".

However, due to a loophole governing the profession, the 59-year-old has been able to continue practising, charging up to £125 a session.

The council only regulates "art therapists" who offer "music, art or drama therapy" leaving Mr Gale free to work as long as he does not use these titles to describe his services.

There are fears he could continue to practise even if the council bans him for life after a hearing that starts today and is likely to take six weeks.

The allegations, from seven different patients, are over years of alleged abuse at The Gale Centre, which Mr Gale runs from his home in Loughton, Essex.

During a singing lesson with a client named Patient I, Mr Gale is accused of punching her in the stomach.

The patient, who regularly saw Mr Gale from 1999 to 2007, also accused him of demonstrating a sexual position by lying on top of her and of running a "Nude Group" in which all members were told to remove their clothing.

Another former patient, Gena Dry, who saw Mr Gale for 20 years, until 2004, accused him of pinching her breast and claims he discussed his sex life in front of her.

The 45-year-old singer, now living in New York, claimed: "Derek convinced me I had deep psychological problems. At a workshop, he got me to act out a sexual abuse scenario. Although I was certain I'd never been abused, I started to have nightmares."

On a number of occasions between March and October 2000, he is said to have sworn at a client named Patient A and sexually harassed her. A third client, Patient C alleges that, from 1991 to 1998, and 2003 to 2006, Mr Gale encouraged patients to take illegal drugs at his home.

A fourth, Patient E, who saw Mr Gale for six years, accused him of groping her and trying to kiss her.

Mr Gale refused to say whether he was still practising but his website is still up and running.

'I fear he may ruin more lives'

Paula Conlon went to see Derek Gale for advice on her marriage in 2000.

The IT consultant, 40, from Ilford, ended up leaving her husband and cutting off her parents before realising she had to stop attending Mr Gale's therapy sessions in November 2005.

She said: "Derek convinced me that my husband was a bully, and I was awful to him, causing him to leave me.

"I was thousands of pounds out of pocket, I'd cut off my parents, I had almost no friends."

Ms Conlon says she was lucky to escape: "If Derek isn't stopped, I fear for the number of lives he may still ruin."