A SENIOR doctor at a major Welsh hospital has been convicted of sexually assaulting two female staff members, after abusing his position of power to carry out the attacks. The assaults took place while the women were on duty, with the doctor ensuring that they were alone and that no one could witness his actions.
Naleen Thota, a 55-year-old doctor from Swansea, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault. The court heard that Thota, who was working in the intensive care unit at Morriston Hospital, targeted his victims on separate occasions, taking advantage of his senior role and their vulnerability.
The two women, who had initially feared reporting the assaults due to concerns about the doctor’s authority and their own isolation, bravely came forward after a period of silence. Both victims gave harrowing statements to the court, detailing the psychological and emotional toll of the attacks. One victim described how Thota “wielded his position of power like a weapon to hurt me and silence me”, leaving her feeling alone and afraid that she would not be believed.
In an emotional statement, she revealed how the violation had driven her mental health into a “very dark place”. However, she expressed that the guilty verdicts had restored her faith in the justice system, reaffirming that speaking up does make a difference.
The second victim described Thota’s behaviour as “predatory and calculating”, claiming that he had deliberately sought out and groomed his victims. She spoke of how he presented a “friendly façade” to colleagues, which concealed his true nature. The victim also shared that she had sought counselling in an attempt to cope with the trauma caused by the assaults.
Defending Thota, barrister Hywel Davies said the defendant, who trained as a doctor in India before moving to the UK over two decades ago, had spent nearly all of his career in Swansea. He noted that a meeting was scheduled to discuss Thota’s future employment, and it was uncertain whether he would ever practice medicine again. Davies added that, regardless of the sentence, Thota’s family would likely have to sell their home and relocate due to the shame the case had brought upon them.
In sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards commended the bravery of the victims, acknowledging the “enormous courage and strength” they had shown in reporting the assaults and testifying against Thota. She told the court that the doctor’s senior position at the hospital and his reputation among colleagues had led him to believe he could act with impunity. She condemned his actions as a “gross and calculated abuse of power and position.”
Judge Richards remarked that Thota’s offences had clearly crossed the custody threshold. She explained that while immediate prison time was considered, the court also took into account the impact of such a sentence on his family, as well as his continued denial of guilt, which suggested little prospect of rehabilitation. As a result, Thota was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, undergo a rehabilitation programme, and be subject to a 10-year restraining order. Furthermore, Thota will be required to register as a sex offender for the next decade.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Richards underscored that Thota’s career in medicine would be “rightly curtailed”, which would reduce the likelihood of re-offending. Despite his denial, the judge remarked that the verdicts against him were a significant step in securing justice for the victims and protecting others in the future.
