VICTIMS of disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale are calling for him to be jailed.

Twenty-nine women died under his care while he worked as a surgeon at The Friarage Hospital, Northallerton.

Mr Neale, from Boroughbridge, this week faces being struck off the medical register - for the second time in his career - after he was found guilty by a General Medical Council hearing of a catalogue of errors.

Now his victims want criminal charges brought to stop him fleeing the country and working abroad.

They also want a public inquiry into the role played by the GMC and the Friarage, where Mr Neale, 52, worked for ten years.

Police in North Yorkshire are investigating potential criminal negligence in the case of three of the 29 Friarage women who died and a number of others who were injured at the hospital.

Victim Sheila Wright-Hogeland, from near Kirkbymoorside, who led the campaign, said: "We want an inquiry and we want police action in this case."

Campaigner Carole Millward, another victim from Northallerton, said: "We have got justice at last but we have had to kick and scream and fight to get this result."

Last week, the professional conduct committee of the General Medical Council found 34 of 35 'facts proven' against the consultant.

Mr Neale was found guilty of performing operations without consent, sub-standard surgery, unnecessary procedures and failing to inform his patients' GPs of complications resulting from his incompetence.

Women were left in agony after surgery, but said he became abusive when they complained.

Mr Neale was also found to have lied about his qualifications when he applied for a position at the GMC, from where he would have assessed other doctors.

The GMC was due this week to consider whether Mr Neale's mistakes amounted to serious professional misconduct and whether he should be struck off.

One count, that he behaved in an unprofessional manner to patient 'Mrs B' in 1995, was found not proved. Mr Neale refused to comment as he left the London hearing.

He is now expected to face a flood of litigation from women in Britain and Canada, where police are also considering charges. Mr Neale was struck off the medical register there in 1985 after a woman died in childbirth.

But he was allowed to work in this country when he returned here in 1985.

Despite concerns about his 'commitment' at the Friarage, where he worked from 1985 to 1995, Mr Neale left with £100,000 severance pay and a positive reference. He then worked in Leicester, London and the Isle of Wight before two complaints were finally made in 1998 and the floodgates of cases opened.

North Yorkshire police confirmed that inquiries into Mr Neale's activities at The Friarage were continuing.