THE family of a retired psychiatrist convicted of a series of sex offences yesterday pledged to fight to clear his name.

Former York consultant Michael Haslam, 69, was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of raping one patient and indecently assaulting two others. The offences happened at hospitals in York in the 1980s.

Haslam, of Crayke, near Easingwold, North Yorkshire, was warned he would serve at least half the sentence.

During the trial at Leeds Crown Court, his counsel, Tom Bayliss QC, indicated that an appeal will be lodged against the convictions

Now his son, Michael, has issued a statement on behalf of the family, pledging support.

"In our opinion, Dr Haslam is not guilty of the offences of which he has been convicted. We will fight on to clear his name," he said.

Haslam was placed indefinitely on the sex offenders register and refused bail pending appeal.

An application for prosecution costs of £100,000 was turned down after the judge was told Haslam faced financial ruin as a result of a libel action against a Sunday newspaper.

Meanwhile, up to 20 former patients of Haslam have already come forward to raise concerns about the retired Clifton Hospital consultant to an NHS inquiry.

It was set up in 2001 to examine the way the NHS handled complaints against Haslam and another retired York psychiatrist, William Kerr, of Alne, near Easingwold, who was found at a hearing-of-fact in 2000 to have indecently assaulted a former patient. Kerr was unfit to stand trial.

The inquiry was put on hold after Haslam was arrested last year, but it will now resume in the New Year.