A family doctor thrown out by his wife for soliciting prostitutes two years ago was again fined for kerb crawling today.

Teesside magistrates court heard how Patrick Holmes, 33, a GP from Middleton Lane, Middleton St George, near Darlington, was caught approaching a female prostitute on the Chandlers Wharf retail estate in Stockton last month.

Father-of-one Holmes, who works at a surgery in Middleton St George, was asked to leave the family home by his wife after he was first caught for kerb crawling in February 2000. Caroline May, prosecuting, told the court that Holmes was spotted by vice squad officers on August 16 this year.

She said: "At around 7pm police officers were making observations when they saw a female approach a male motorist in the Chandlers Wharf area of Stockton.

"He pulled up alongside the woman and she appeared to converse with the driver and then she got into the vehicle.

"It was at this point that the officers went to the car and the defendant identified himself." In police interviews after his arrest, Holmes admitted he had approached the prostitute.

Holmes pleaded guilty to a charge of soliciting a female from a vehicle for the purpose of prostitution and was fined £300 and ordered to pay £30 court costs.

Philip Mitchell, defending, said his client deeply regretted what he did that night. He told the court: "There is no suggestion that my client was involved in any improper act.

"However, he has accepted responsibility for his actions that night. "He should also be given credit for entering the appropriate plea at a

n early opportunity.

"He has taken further action himself in regard to that evening. He will be receiving assistance from another undisclosed body."

Magistrates said his previous offence for soliciting was an aggravating factor in deciding his sentence.

When fined £250 the first time Holmes handed a letter to the court saying his wife had asked him to leave and that he was 'far from hopeful that the problem could be healed.'