A leading psychiatrist from the South grabbed the crotch of a female patient during a therapy session, a court heard today.

Christopher Allison, 60, allegedly slipped his hand between the woman's legs at the end of a therapy session after offering to show her where her kidneys were.

He denies seven charges of rape, 14 charges of indecent assault and one charge of attempted rape over a period of almost 20 years at clinics in Ashford and Canterbury in Kent, Oxford and more recently in Basingstoke, Hants.

The woman, referred to in court as Miss F, told Winchester Crown Court the assault took place on her third and final visit to Allison's clinic in Canterbury, Kent, in August 1986.

Christopher Allison outside Winchester Crown Court

Miss F began seeing Allison for counselling to deal with anorexia and depression.

She said: "I did not feel comfortable with Dr Allison from the instant I started seeing him. I just felt he was creepy and I did not know why.

Back pain

"I said that I got pains in my back which I was concerned were my kidneys.

"He went and stood behind me and said 'This is where your kidneys are,' and placed his thumbs on the side of my back.

"He kept his thumbs on my back for a couple of seconds and then moved one hand to the front of me, touching my crotch, and he seemed to try to kiss the back of my head."

A few days after the incident Miss F complained to her GP, who referred her to another therapist to complete her sessions.

No official complaint was made at the time as she felt she would not be able to withstand the pressure of a court case.

Allison, formerly of Skippets Lane West, Basingstoke, now lives in Hall Lane, Risby, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The trial continues.