A GP accused of committing sex offences on female patients during examinations was this afternoon remanded in custody by magistrates.

Dr Syed Amjad Husain is accused of indecently assaulting patients aged 32 and nine, plus another unknown girl, during consultation at Orchard Court Surgery in Darlington.

He is alleged to have committed a similar offence on a 74-year-old dimentia sufferer in an examination at her home.

Husain, 29, is also accused of possessing 1,594 indecent images of children on computer at his home in Lazenby Grove, Darlington. He appeared before magistrates in Peterlee today, facing a total of 22 charges.

Four relate to the alleged indecent assaults on the patients and 18 are of making an indecent image of children, 16 on his computer and two on a camcorder.

Prosecuting solicitor Jane Mitford gave a 45-minute outline of the allegations during the two hour hearing in which she opposed bail.

Applying for bail, Peter Furness, representing Dr Husain, said his family was prepared to offer a £5,000 surety and allow him to live with a relative at an address 150-miles from Darlington.

But following lengthy deliberation magistrates' chairman Ged Canovan turned down the request and remanded Dr Husain in custody for a week.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing at the court next Friday when Dr Husain will appear via video link from his prison cell.