TO everyone who knew him Syed Amjed Husain was a pillar of the community.

A doctor of above average ability, he came from a good, middle-class family and had a prosperous future in medicine ahead of him.

But the 30-year-old chose to abuse his position of trust to fuel his own perversions - jeopardising his career, character and freedom in the process.

As a result of his sickening attacks on vulnerable patients, he will never again be able to practise as a GP in this country or to work with children.

To those who knew Dr Husain he was "Mr Nice Guy". As a doctor, he was helpful, polite, and genuinely seemed to care for his patients welfare.

One patient, who did not want to be named, said: "He was very well-mannered. He appeared to be a bright, young man who was just a nice guy.

"Whenever I went to see him, he always spent time trying to find out what was wrong and doing his best to help. I could not believe it when I found out what had happened. As a doctor you are supposed to be able to trust them."

Husain, who lived with his mother in Darlington's West End, studied for his A-levels at the town's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College before gaining bachelor of medicine and bachelor of science qualifications at Dundee University in 1997.

He returned to the North-East after his studies and carried out several training posts.

He also provided cover on the children's ward at the Friarage hospital in Northallerton.

The doctor later went to work at Bewick Crescent surgery in Newton Aycliffe before taking up the post as general practitioner at Orchard Court.

A statement issued on behalf of the partners at the surgery said: "Dr Husain came to the practice with excellent references and appeared to be a very affable and very capable doctor.

"When we were told the full extent of the allegations we were shocked and horrified, and now he has been convicted, feel totally betrayed by someone who had the trust of our patients and ourselves."

Despite his friendly exterior Husain suffered from immaturity and a complete lack of sexual experience, which led him to commit such heinous crimes.

His barrister told the court that his client suffered from innate shyness and an embarrassing condition discovered at the age of 20 which meant he was unable to marry.

Husain's mother had spent years trying to fix an arranged marriage for her son but at the end of 2002 he returned from Dubai to discover he had been rejected by a woman, which led him to suffer from depression.

Tim Roberts QC said: "It prevented him from leading a normal sex life with a partner and has allowed this immature and inappropriate behaviour to develop. He was weak and he gave in to it."

In a letter to the judge, Husain admitted his own failings.

In an extract read out in court he said: "I am immature as a doctor and immature as a person without any sexual experience and the combination of this has unfortunately contributed to my demise."

Hussain then went on to apologise for the devastation he had caused his victims and his family. He admitted having voyeuristic tendencies and said he had no defence for what he had done.

Dr Richard Harker, GP and chairman of the Professional Executive Committee, said: "Unfortunately, it is well known that people with aberrant sexual tastes target professions that will bring them into close contact with potential victims.

"The case of Dr Husain sends a powerful message out to these people - that medicine, and general practice in particular, is no easy option and the systems are in place to bring them justice."

The general practitioner's failings as a doctor and a community figure and his excuses for committing these crimes on vulnerable children and an elderly woman will bring little comfort to his victims and their families.

As one victim said: "He is absolutely sick in the head. When he gets out, he will go out and do it again - in another country."