Neale was struck off in 2000

The gynaecologist, who has been found guilty by the GMC of 34 charges of failing to provide appropriate care to patients and lying about his qualifications, was born and trained in the UK.

He did his medical training in London, qualifying in 1970, and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in the same year.

In 1977 he emigrated to Canada in 1977, securing work at the Prince George Hospital in British Columbia.

However, colleagues at the hospital soon become concerned about his methods.

Dr Eldon Lee, a senior gynaecologist who worked at the hospital, described Mr Neale as "absolutely incompetent".

Colleagues complained of abnormal levels of complications and blood banks raised concerns at the amount of blood he used in operations.

In 1978 Joyce Kitchen, 56, died at the hospital after Mr Neale operated on her against the advice of the head of surgery.

Richard Neale's career 1977: Emigrates to Canada 1985: Struck off by Canadian authorities following the death of a patient 1985: Secure work at Friarage Hospital, North Yorkshire 1990: Becomes director of the maternity unit 1995: Leaves post after concerns about his record. Given a good reference 1998: General Medical Council launches investigation

She suffered from benign tumours in her womb but it was considered too dangerous to remove them because she only had one kidney.

But Mr Neale decided to operate anyway.

During the surgery her kidney was severed, she suffered renal failure and died next day.

Neale was banned from operating in British Columbia and moved to Toronto, where he worked at the Oshawa Hospital.

In 1981, Geraldine Krawchuk, a 40-year-old mother of five who was pregnant with her sixth child, died after Neale gave her an overdose of a drug banned by the hospital but obtainable elsewhere.

He administered 10 times the dose of the drug prostaglandin, used to induce birth, causing Mrs Krawchuk to bleed to death. Her baby survived.

Mr Neale was eventually struck off by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1985.

Returned to the UK

He returned to the UK and took up work as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Friarage Hospital in North Allerton, Yorkshire.

The GMC was apparently informed that he had been struck off in Canada but took no action.

He became a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, based in London, and in 1990 became director of the hospital's maternity unit.

However, in 1995, further problems began to emerge amid "concerns about the extent of his commitment".

Mr Neale left the post but it is alleged that he was given a �100,000 severance payment by the Friarage Hospital.

It is also claimed he was given a clean reference to avoid being put through disciplinary procedures.

He used the reference to gain work as a locum in Leicester and the Isle of Wight.

It is claimed the GMC failed to respond when it was approached by the Leicester Royal Infirmary with concerns about Mr Neale in 1995.

He also performed stints at the London Fertility Clinic and the private Portland Hospital in central London and the medical directory of all doctors lists the London Women's Clinic in Harley Street as his place of work.

It also lists him as a member of the International Continence Society and the American Urogynaecological Association.

In 1998, the GMC announced it was considering two complaints against Mr Neale.

Publicity surrounding the case opened the floodgates and more than 60 women came forward with complaints.

Now Mr Neale is expected to face dozens of litigation claims from women both in Britain and Canada.

The GMC's investigation of the allegations against Mr Neale is one of the biggest in its history and the hearing, which began, in June, is one of its longest.