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| Ex-GP Navin Zala sex assault victim 'tip of iceberg' | Ex-GP Navin Zala sex assault victim 'tip of iceberg' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One of the victims of a former GP who was jailed for indecently assaulting patients has said she thinks her case is just the tip of the iceberg. | One of the victims of a former GP who was jailed for indecently assaulting patients has said she thinks her case is just the tip of the iceberg. |
| The woman, who the BBC is calling Mary to protect her anonymity, believes Navin Zala may have as many as 100 other victims. | The woman, who the BBC is calling Mary to protect her anonymity, believes Navin Zala may have as many as 100 other victims. |
| Zala, 63, from Gravesend in Kent, was convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault, at Hove Crown Court last month. | Zala, 63, from Gravesend in Kent, was convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault, at Hove Crown Court last month. |
| He was sentenced to 11 years in jail. | He was sentenced to 11 years in jail. |
| The doctor assaulted patients at his surgery in Gravesend in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of his victims were as young as 14. | |
| 'Nothing medical' | 'Nothing medical' |
| Zala, who has been barred from practising as a GP, was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. | Zala, who has been barred from practising as a GP, was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. |
| Mary said Zala abused her between 1983 and 1988 when she was in her early 20s. | Mary said Zala abused her between 1983 and 1988 when she was in her early 20s. |
| He would examine her breast every time she visited him complaining of unrelated ailments including a sore throat, earache and flu. | He would examine her breast every time she visited him complaining of unrelated ailments including a sore throat, earache and flu. |
| She said at the time, she thought it was because of breast cancer concerns. | She said at the time, she thought it was because of breast cancer concerns. |
| In 1988, Zala carried out what he described as an internal "examination". | In 1988, Zala carried out what he described as an internal "examination". |
| "He put his hands inside me and started making insidious comments," Mary said. | "He put his hands inside me and started making insidious comments," Mary said. |
| "There was nothing medical about the examination. | "There was nothing medical about the examination. |
| "When somebody's leering over you and making comments about your boyfriend and how is sex with your boyfriend, 'Did you enjoy it and was it good?' | "When somebody's leering over you and making comments about your boyfriend and how is sex with your boyfriend, 'Did you enjoy it and was it good?' |
| "There was just no doubt and I was so shocked that I almost couldn't get my breath. | "There was just no doubt and I was so shocked that I almost couldn't get my breath. |
| "I felt very stupid because of course everything fell into place. | "I felt very stupid because of course everything fell into place. |
| "I thought 'Why didn't I realise, why hadn't I picked this up before?'" | "I thought 'Why didn't I realise, why hadn't I picked this up before?'" |
| 'Incredible courage' | 'Incredible courage' |
| Speaking after Zala was sentenced, Kent Police's Det Con Zoe Traynor, the investigating officer, said the former GP had abused and betrayed his patients for his own sexual gratification. | Speaking after Zala was sentenced, Kent Police's Det Con Zoe Traynor, the investigating officer, said the former GP had abused and betrayed his patients for his own sexual gratification. |
| "He assaulted his victims while they were at their most vulnerable and it has taken incredible courage for them to come forward to report his crimes," she said. | "He assaulted his victims while they were at their most vulnerable and it has taken incredible courage for them to come forward to report his crimes," she said. |
| "I would like to pay tribute to their bravery, which allowed us to launch an investigation and bring Zala to justice." | "I would like to pay tribute to their bravery, which allowed us to launch an investigation and bring Zala to justice." |