A DOCTOR who was “infatuated” with a colleague and harassed her has been suspended following a tribunal.

Raviraj Karkera carried out the “sexually motivated” conduct while he was working at the Verwood Surgery in Station Road.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled that his “serious misconduct” had impaired his fitness to practice following a hearing this month.

The tribunal found a number of inappropriate actions, which included telling his female colleague she looked like Beyonce after taking the image on his phone without her permission, had been proved.

He also sent her inappropriate text messages, including one which said “I want to take you get you drunk and watch” and another which said words to the effect of  “chill out and do not be so uptight”.

At the surgery he commented on what she was wearing, describing her outfit as “functional but not wow”.

He went on to say words to that effect of “I want to set you a challenge every Monday to wear something that’s more wow and I can rate your outfits".

The case had been brought by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Representing the GMC, Chloe Hudson submitted Dr Karkera’s behaviour “amounted to abuses of trust and power” and his conduct would be considered “deplorable” by fellow practitioners.

Scott Ivill, representing Dr Karkera, asked the tribunal to consider what Dr Karkera had done since the incidents to demonstrate insight into how he would act differently if faced with the same situation again.

Dr Karkera, who qualified as a doctor in 1986, denied his actions amounted to harassment or were sexually motivated, and that he placed responsibility on his colleague who “misconstrued” his actions.

However, the tribunal panel concluded his conduct, which took place in 2019, amounted to harassment, was sexually motivated and continued despite being asked to stop sending personal messages and being told on more than one occasion that his behaviour was inappropriate.

It was found that Dr Karkera’s actions had the effect of “violating” the woman’s dignity.

He was suspended from working as a doctor for four months.

The Verwood Surgery announced Dr Karkera’s retirement last month after more than 20 years at the practice.

In a message to patients, he said: “It has been my pleasure and priviledge (sic) to have been a General Practitioner in Verwood and the surrounding areas for the past 24 years and a medical career which started in 1986, the time has certainly flown by.

“I have been lucky to have been supported by our wonderful staff and fellow GPs.”