A GP who was convicted of sexually assaulting patients at his surgery has been cleared of groping four other women.

At the start of a three-week trial the Old Bailey was told Dr Navin Zala allegedly abused four women while working at the former Marling Way Surgery in Gravesend between 1985 and 2007 and one at Queen Mary Hospital, Sidcup, during the 1980s.

The 68-year-old claimed the four new complainants had 'mistakenly come forward' because of publicity surrounding the previous case.

Zala qualified as a doctor in 1975 and got a job at the Marling Way Surgery, which closed in 2011, soon after completing his GP training in 1982.

The four women came forward after the GP was convicted in June 2013 of 10 counts of indecent assault against former patients between 1985 and 1991, the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecutor Vivian Walters told the jury the abuse was opportunistic.

The first alleged victim claimed she was repeatedly groped by the doctor between the ages of 17 and 25.

She described the doctor as 'having a good feel' during breast examinations.

Zala allegedly sexually assaulted the second victim during intimate examinations of her genitals between 1985 and 1991.

When she came forward to police she passed on the contact details of the third alleged victim, the court heard.

The third woman claimed she was aged 14 or 15 when Zala groped her breasts after she went to see him about a sore throat.

Zala allegedly asked her if she was a virgin before putting his hand inside her bra, jurors heard.

The fourth alleged victim told police she went to Queen Mary's for a medical after applying for a nursing job in the late '80s.

Zala allegedly used both hands to touch her breasts during the examination.

She came forward to police after seeing his photo in the paper following his conviction.

Zala, of no fixed address but formerly of Marling Way, Gravesend, denied six counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.

Jurors were told this is a retrial after an earlier jury failed to reach verdicts.

It took them just under six hours to return not guilty verdicts to all charges.