A DOCTOR used a stethoscope to molest a 14-year-old girl after he hired her to babysit for his twin sons, a medical tribunal has heard.

Dr Barkat Chowdhury, who was employed as a doctor at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, is alleged to have pushed the medical device down the girl's blouse and asked if he could take off his trousers.

Chowdhury was also said to have forced the youngster's hand underneath his own underwear, saying: "My wife doesn't let me do this. She won't let me have sex with her."

But the incident went unreported for more than 20 years until Lancashire Police launched Operation Nevada - the largest child abuse probe in Britain.

The complainant - now in her 40s - contacted detectives in November 2000. It was later decided there was insufficient evidence to continue with criminal prosecution, but the evidence was passed to the General Medical Council.

Dr Chowdhury, of Telford, Shropshire, faced the GMC in Manchester accused of serious professional misconduct.

The alleged incident occurred in August 1979 while he was employed as a doctor at Blackburn.

The complainant - known as Miss A - said the incident had taken place while she was babysitting Dr Chowdhury's four-year-old sons.

Mr Richard Tyrrell, for the GMC said: "At the end of every day around 5pm Miss A would be driven home Dr Chowdhury after finishing her childminding duties. One day Mr Chowdhury came home earlier than normal and told Miss A he was on call. He then took his boys and Miss A to a 'doctors flat'. When arriving Dr Chowdhury put his two sons in the bath and left Miss A in one of the bedrooms. He returned, saying: 'Do you mind if I change my trousers?'"

Chowdhury was said to have removed his trousers. Mr Tyrrell said: "Miss A looked embarrassed. He then began to push a stethoscope down Miss A's blouse. He undid his own shirt, began unbuttoning Miss A's and then sexually assaulted her.

"Miss A said: 'I don't want to do this'. At the same time Mr Chowdhury's son began to cry out from the bathroom. Mr Chowdhury jumped up and said, in a calm manner: 'You shouldn't tell anyone about this'.

"From this point in 1979 until autumn 2000 Miss A was too afraid to report the incident as she was a shy girl."

Miss A reported the alleged incident to the police in November 2000, but did not publicly reveal his identity until the following year. Dr Chowdhury was arrested by Lancashire Police in 2001 at his medical practice in Telford.

Mr James Watson QC, defending, said: "The committee are invited to decide whether or not it's right to proceed after an extra-ordinary lapse of time. You could be jeopardising this doctor's livelihood. It is impossible to get a fair trial more than two decades after the alleged offence."

Chowdhury denies serious professional misconduct.

The hearing continues.