A PSYCHOTHERAPIST has been accused of raping three women patients who visited his clinic in Canterbury.

Christopher Allison, 58, is alleged to have committed the offences between 1982 and 1992 while working at a psychotherapy unit he helped set up at the Cossington Road surgery.

He is also accused of carrying out other sexual assaults, including an attempted rape, while working in Basingstoke up until 1999.

Allison, a married man formerly of Pilgrims Way, Canterbury, but now living in Basingstoke, appeared at the town's magistrates court.

He was remanded on conditional bail to appear before Winchester Crown Court on September 10.

He had previously worked for the old Canterbury and Thanet Health Authority as a consultant psychiatrist at St Augustine's Hospital between 1979 and 1988. He is no longer on the medical register.

Basingstoke detectives investigating the alleged rapes and assaults say they are interested to hear from anyone who has further information. They can be contacted on 0845 045 4545.