A "creepy" NHS heart surgeon who groped a string of female colleagues has been branded "a sexual predator hiding in plain sight" as he was jailed for six years. Dr Amal Bose, 55, grabbed one nurse's breast as she was helping him prepare for surgery at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Another woman said Bose, who has resorted to delivering parcels since his downfall, groped her as he helped himself to a pen from her top pocket, saying he referred to her as "fresh meat".

A third victim described how the father-of-five pulled her top down, exposing her chest and bra and told her: "I thought that is where you put my cup of tea." The mucky medic also responded to seeing a female colleague eating a lollipop by telling her: "I've got something better for you to suck on". The consultant becomes the sixth health professional from the Lancashire hospital to be jailed for serious criminal offences in the past two years.

Bose was head of cardiothoracic surgery at the seaside town's hospital where he was described as "esteemed" but "arrogant".

Some of the women had taken time of sick due to his actions or even left their role to avoid him.

At the sentence hearing, the women's victim personal statements were read to the court to assist the judge on reaching a sentence.

One woman described suffering with panic attacks and anxiety as a result of the offences, another described feeling isolated and vulnerable and having self-harmed as a coping mechanism.

Jailing him at Preston Crown Court Judge Ian Unsworth told Bose he had used his exalted position to prey on colleagues, believing he could act "with impunity".

He branded the doctor's crimes "sexually charged, targeted and predatory", saying he regarded female staff as being there "to satisfy your own sexual needs and urges".

He added: "You felt you could do what you wanted, when you wanted, with who you wanted.

"The reality is you were a sexual predator hiding in plain sight."

Judge Unsworth said he accepted Bose had been a "dedicated, highly-skilled surgeon" of whom many patients owe him their lives, but he added that he showed no remorse for his crimes.

Bose was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault against the five women between 2017 and 2022 following a trial earlier this year.

He was cleared of two other counts.

It heard that the once high-flying surgeon was the root cause of a highly sexualised toxic culture at the unit.

Messages showed how he commented on whether particular colleagues were "shaggable", and drunkenly called one and asked her to go back to his hotel room to "show her a good time".

However staff were reluctant to challenge him due to his seniority and instead his behaviour was dismissed as "just Amal".

When he was arrested at his £1.2 million five-bedroomed home, Bose was recorded on police video telling the officer: "It was only flirting."

Tom Price, KC, defending said his client had "gone from the very highest to the very lowest" and was now working as a parcel delivery driver having "devoted his life to public service."

He added: "He has done more good than bad and he has saved many lives. His career has now totally and utterly gone and he now appreciates the full gravity of his actions."

Sacha Coyne, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West's Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit, said: "Amal Bose was in a trusted position at the hospital. He abused this by creating a toxic environment, making sexual comments, and sexually assaulting five women who worked at the hospital.

"He appeared not to recognise the serious and lasting impact his actions would have, describing his behaviour at trial as "workplace banter".

"I would like to thank the women for supporting the prosecution, and I hope now Bose has been brought to justice they can find some closure.

"This case should send a clear message to perpetrators of sexual abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to prosecute abusers, regardless of the position that the abuser holds in society."

Bose was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault that all took place between August 2017 and December 2022.