Doctor, 56, who was accused of sexually assaulting three colleagues weeps as he's cleared of string of attacks - after father-of-two told trial he was 'shocked out of my skin' by the allegations

A doctor, who was accused of sexually assaulting three colleagues, wept in court today after he was cleared of the string of attacks.

Brian Kubwalo, 56, who was a gynaecologist and obstetrician at Wirral's Arrowe Park Hospital, told the trial at Liverpool Crown Court that he had been 'shocked out of my skin' by the allegations.

Jurors found the father-of-two not guilty of the three sexual assault charges, which included claims of putting his hand down the trousers of one female complainant.

Another woman said Mr Kubwalo had touched her on the bottom, while a third accused him of touching her on the legs and offering to 'give her a hand' when she went to the toilet.

The accused said that this had been 'an off the cuff remark' and 'a cheeky thing to say' and that he had not realised the comment had upset the woman until his line manager told him she had made a complaint about inappropriate behaviour.

He added: 'I didn’t think she would take it seriously.' 

He agreed that he sent her an apology saying, 'sorry to have caused you distress. I was joking and just making some banter which went too far. I have always seen you as a good friend. Sorry.'

The 56-year-old said he engaged in banter with colleagues, which sometimes involved giving 'friendly' shoulder massages, including to the woman who accused him of touching him on the leg, if they were tense or stressed.

Mr Kubwalo, who was born in Malawi, said: 'I have a laugh and put people at ease to facilitate my work.'

He added that such banter involved 'joking words, they are not meant to hurt anyone…..it is very contextual.'