A GYNAECOLOGIST who almost killed a pregnant woman during an abortion had no experience in the operation, the General Medical Council (GMC) was told yesterday.

Consultant Andrew Gbinigie, 47, left the 21-year-old with horrific internal injuries, it was claimed.

The patient, referred to as Miss A, has had two miscarriages since undergoing surgery at the private Calthorpe clinic, in Birmingham, in November 2000.

It is claimed Dr Gbinigie did not have enough experience in the abortion of foetuses older than 14 weeks before agreeing to cover for another doctor.

Mohammed Menabawey, a consultant at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, said he supervised Dr Gbinigie between October 1992 and April 1993.

He said Dr Gbinigie did not perform any terminations or have any training at Hartlepool.

Christine Lumsden, director of operations at South Tyneside District Hospital, confirmed the doctor stayed for two years from July 1993 to July 1995 without performing any terminations.

The doctor spent three months as a visitor at the foetal medicine unit in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary between July and September 1995.

Dr Gbinigie then spent four years with the Dudley Group of Hospitals, in Birmingham, but resigned in October 2000 after being accused of sexual harassment of two nurses.

He was later banned from performing any abortions by the Interim Orders Committee of the GMC following the operation on Miss A.

Dr Menabawey took the doctor back on as a locum consultant at Hartlepool in December 2001, the committee heard.

Dr Gbinigie, of Barnt Green, Birmingham, denies a charge of serious professional misconduct over the abortion in November 2000.

The hearing continues.