'I like your breasts just the way they are': Aston Martin-driving doctor 'listened to patient revealing his marriage crisis - then texted the man's wife and tried to have an affair with her'

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A family doctor tried to start an affair with a female patient after her husband confided the pair were having difficulties with their marriage. 

GP William Arnett is alleged to have sent sexually-motivated, flirtatious texts to the woman after her husband visited his surgery in Sunderland and confessed that their relationship  was in crisis.

Arnett , 41, referred the husband to a counsellor but a medical tribunal heard he then obtained his wife's number from her medical records and tried to woo her. 

Tribunal hearing: Family doctor William Arnett, pictured with a friend

The GP fondled the woman's breasts during an examination at her surgery where he kissed her and later texted her to tell her: 'I like your breasts just the way they are'. 

She admitted 'liking the attention' but was fearful of what her husband would do if he found out. 

Arnett and the woman - known as Patient A - subsequently went on a date where the GP kissed her again – but her husband found out and confronted Arnett at his home.

Patient A's husband subsequently reported Arnett to the General Medical Council, saying: 'My marriage was not in a great place before this, but the guy I turned to for help screwed me over'.

Mr Arnett allegedly began sending sexually-motivated texts to the woman before kissing her and fondling her breasts after her husband visited his surgery, Arnett's Roker Family Practice in Sunderland (pictured), and confessed that their marriage was in crisis

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester was told the couple - who have a child together - had both been patients at Arnett's Roker Family Practice in Sunderland since 2012, where they would all engage in 'friendly banter'.

But trouble began in October 2014 when the husband - who has not been named - went to the GP for treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Outlining the case, Alan Taylor, Counsel for the GMC, said: 'Towards the end of the appointment Dr Arnett asked [the husband] how things were generally and Patient A's husband broke down explaining how working away was having a serious impact on family life and he was stressed at work.

'Significantly he also told him his marriage was in crisis. Dr Arnett gave Patient A's husband the contact numbers for Sunderland counselling services.'

But several months later in July 2015, Arnett unexpectedly sent Patient A a text message to tell her she had missed an appointment at the practice adding: 'Home visits cost more LOL'.

Mr Taylor said: 'Patient A will confirm she didn't supply her mobile phone number to Dr Arnett. We say that in order to communicate with her in this way Dr Arnett accessed Patient A's records in order to obtain her number, without her knowledge or consent. We also say this was sexually motivated in the light of what happened.

'They continued exchanging text messages relating to non-clinical matters. In addition there are messages from Dr Arnett to Patient A which had clear sexual innuendo, which were inappropriate, flirtatious and were, we again say, sexually motivated.

'He was using his professional position to pursue a sexual and improper emotional relationship with Patient A.'

The following month Patient A attended an appointment with Arnett after complaining of a problem she had with her breast since finishing breastfeeding. But after giving her an intimate examination, Arnett's chair moved towards the patient and they kissed.

Mr Taylor said: 'When they stopped, Patient A recalls saying 'wow what just happened?' What happened was that this doctor kissed the patient during his consultation at his surgery within a clinical setting.

'The text messages between Dr Arnett and Patient A continued after the kiss in the surgery and the following day he texted the patient saying he liked her breasts just the way they were. That evening he sent a text saying that he regretted putting his 'loose trousers back on.'

Just over a week later, Patient A asked Arnett if they could meet up for coffee but ended up at a pub on Arnett's suggestion and he texted her saying: 'I'm sure you look simply gorgeous! xx'

Mr Taylor said: 'Patient A says she liked the attention of somebody wanting to talk to her. But after an hour in the pub Patient A's husband phoned and she said she was in the pub with a female friend.

'She then told Dr Arnett she had to leave in case he turned up - but he asked if she wanted to go for another drink elsewhere. She followed the doctor in her car to another pub although she wanted to get home because she felt guilty about lying to her husband.

'As they were on the steps of the pub she gave Dr Arnett the type of kiss you would give your aunt or sister. But as she got into her car, he followed, leant into the car and kissed her - a proper kiss rather than a peck on the lips. She backed away as she didn't want to be kissed. That was the last time Patient A saw Dr Arnett.

'When Patient A returned home, her husband asked where she had been, suspecting something was not right. He quizzed and quizzed until she told him and he retrieved her deleted text messages.

'He was very angry indeed and used Patient A's mobile phone to ask the doctor to 'call me urgently'.'

The case is being heard at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester (pictured)

The tribunal heard how Patient A's husband then found out where Arnett lived and went round to his house to confront him about the affair.

Mr Taylor told the hearing: 'When he knocked on the doctor's door, the husband was extremely angry but a young child aged six or seven answered.

'The doctor would not come to the door and the husband shouted out the messages one by one. He eventually came to the door with a third party and said that nothing happened, it was just daft texts.

'Patient A and her husband got in the car to leave and the doctor walked over to the car and said 'for what it's worth I'm really sorry' to which the husband replied 'too f****** late'.'

The husband later transferred the family to a different surgery telling staff Arnett attempted to start an affair with his wife. He went on sick leave, had to arrange additional counselling and was prescribed antidepressants.

Arnett, who faces being struck off for misconduct, was not present or represented at the hearing.

The case continues.