A NHS Highland doctor who denied allegations of sexual harassment and insisted being French meant he was a “humorous and touching person” has been suspended for three months.

Thierry Bonnin told a female colleague to sit on his knee while they were looking at a patient’s scan.

While working on a ward at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with the same doctor, known as Dr A, he also pinched her ears and touched her leg.

He also made inappropriate remarks, telling her she could practise examinations on him.

Doctor denies conduct was ‘sexual in nature’

Bonnin, who qualified in 1982 and specialises in urology, claimed he had never received a complaint and regularly hugs people when he sees them.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) suspended him after ruling that his behaviour in 2018 and 2019 was of a “sexual nature”.

In a written statement to the tribunal hearing in Manchester, which he did not attend, Dr Bonnin said because he is from the south of France he  is a “humorous and touching person”.

He added: “I acknowledge that my actions can be seen as harassment on the grounds of sex in terms of the Equality Act 2010.

“I strongly deny that my conduct was sexual in nature as alleged or at all.

“I admit that I touched Dr A by pinching her ears, tapping her knee and asking her to examine my fists.

“However, the pinching and tapping was done in jest when she answered a question incorrectly.

“Accordingly, although my actions were unwanted and inappropriate, the touching was not at any time sexual in nature or related to sex.”

‘I didn’t say anything because I was so shocked’

A statement from the junior doctor said: “Dr Bonnin’s groin was level with my face, he was wearing scrubs and pretended to undo the tie on his waist and said, ‘You can practise if you like.’

“I was completely shocked. I didn’t say anything because I was so shocked. I stared at Dr Bonnin as I tried to move back in my chair.

“He just sat back down at his computer and laughed as if it was a joke and carried on with what he was doing. It all just felt very uncomfortable.”

In a written ruling, the MPTS said: “Taking all of the evidence, submissions and its own deliberations into account, the tribunal was satisfied that a period of suspension would mark the seriousness of Dr Bonnin’s misconduct and send a message to the profession and the public that this behaviour was unacceptable.

“It was satisfied that such a period upheld the overarching objective to maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper professional standards and concluded that a suspension of this length would provide Dr Bonnin with an opportunity to further develop his insight and understanding of why his misconduct was ‘of a sexual nature’ although not ‘sexually motivated’.”

Bonnin no longer works for NHS Highland.