Imran Qureshi, 44, outside the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester this week, where he was given a 12 month suspension

A Pakistani doctor who molested a student nurse on a hospital ward is to keep his job after blaming the incident on 'cultural norms' in the UK.

Married locum doctor Imran Qureshi, 44, grabbed the breast of the 21-year-old and told her he wanted an affair as he considered her 'sexually available' because she'd had previous boyfriends.

The student nurse said she was 'shaken up and distraught' and told a tribunal the incident affected her studies and left her unable to trust male colleagues.

The woman, referred to as Miss A, said Qureshi - who was working as a locum senior house officer - grabbed her chest for two seconds before trying to 'make light' of it then becoming aggressive.

Qureshi admitted he made a misjudgement but said 'cultural norms' were different in the UK to his native Pakistan and he failed to spot a 'red light' warning him to make no advances towards the victim.

In June 2016 the father-of-two was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for five years after he was convicted of sexual assault by a jury.

He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order and subsequently lost appeals against his conviction.

But at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester this week he escaped with a 12 month suspension after he offered a 'since deep hearted apology' to Miss A and insisted it was a 'moment of madness and short, brief touching.'

The incident happened at Trafford General Hospital in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester, on June 3, 2015

In June 2016 the father-of-two was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for five years after he was convicted of sexual assault by a jury

He has since attended a course on maintaining professional boundaries and his position as a doctor will be reviewed next year.

Panel chairman Nicholas Flanagan told the doctor: 'The Tribunal concluded you showed a lack of empathy towards Miss A and ignored her objections to your behaviour.

'Given the length of time you had been in the United Kingdom and the fact you were fully aware of the differences in culture because of your experiences with your wife, you should have recognised Ms A's reluctance in light of your shared cultural understanding.

'The Tribunal concluded there is a low but nevertheless not insignificant risk of harm to another individual by a repetition of your behaviour.'

But the tribunal said erasing Qureshi's name from the Medical Register would be disproportionate, punitive and not in the public interest.

The incident happened at Trafford General Hospital in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester, on June 3 2015.

The 21-year-old Muslim student, who was on a work placement, said Qureshi seemed 'excited to see her and well within her personal space'.

At around 3pm she asked the doctor to retrieve some patient notes to which he replied: 'I don't want to get it yet, I want to spend some time with you'.

Counsel for the General Medical Council Rebecca Vanstone, added: 'He told Miss A she was beautiful and asked whether she had a boyfriend. He then said he was not happy in his marriage and wanted an affair.

'Shortly afterwards Miss A was in the ward kitchen when he entered the room and closed the door behind him. He asked whether she had a thyroid problem before feeling her neck.

'She was backed into the corner when the registrant touched her chest at the top where her breasts start. She said he put his fingers there for a few seconds before she pushed them away.

Qureshi admitted he made a misjudgement but said 'cultural norms' were different in the UK to his native Pakistan and he failed to spot a 'red light' warning him to make no advances

'Miss A says she held her hand up to signal for him to move away and told him he was a disgrace. He asked for a hug and she refused but he did it anyway.

'Then he grabbed her right breast for a few seconds. Miss A said he was laughing and trying to make light if the situation and then became aggressive and said that friends do what he was trying to do.

'Miss A reported the incident about an hour later to a friend who told her to inform her mentor and she did so. The mentor describes the account given to her and said she appeared to be nervous, shaken up and distraught.'

The woman said she felt 'anxiety, anger and depression' during the criminal proceedings but the trial judge said Qureshi posed 'no risk for the future.'

Miss Vanstone added: 'Miss A says she was prescribed sleeping tablets because she was struggling to sleep and since she had been wary of male doctors.

'She took three weeks off work which could delay her qualification. She feels that the incident impacted her reputation, she is a young unmarried Muslim woman.'

But Qureshi's lawyer Lee Gledhill said: 'This was a moment of madness, a short, brief period of touching due to him misreading the signals. It has had a profound impact on his personal and financial life but he has had a long time to think about his actions and he is extremely remorseful. He has acknowledged the impact this had on Ms A and would like to issue a sincere apology to her and her family.'