Hospital consultant suspended over train sex acts

A senior hospital consultant who was caught engaging in sexual activity in front of fellow passengers in the middle of a train carriage has been suspended from practice for six months.

Dr Mark Elias, a consultant radiologist at The Christie specialist cancer hospital in Manchester, admitted outraging public decency and was previously handed a suspended prison sentence in February 2025.

He was referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) and an independent tribunal imposed the ban on 30 January.

Elias is not "currently working" at the hospital and is not being paid while he serves his suspension, a spokesperson for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust said.

The Christie also said it had "carried out due dilligence" and had found no evidence of problems with Elias's clinical practice.

It also found no evidence that patient safety had been put at risk.

A panel convened by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service stopped short of striking Elias off the register after hearing of his "remorse and insight".

It also took into account testimonials from his colleagues, who said retaining his expertise in radiology and nuclear medicine was "essential".

The tribunal heard that Elias and a friend had spent the evening of 29 September 2024 drinking in bars around Manchester's Gay Village before attending a cabaret show. They then caught a train back to Chester.

They were subsequently spotted by a conductor on CCTV cameras, performing sex acts in the middle of a carriage "in full view" of other passengers.

They were confronted by the conductor and stopped.

Both men admitted the offence at Chester Magistrates' Court and were given eight-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months, as well as being ordered to complete rehabilitation activities.

The tribunal heard Elias claimed he had been "spiked" and had inhaled a "smoky substance" in a bottle before the train journey home.

However, the panel decided his evidence was "contradictory" and had changed during the hearing.

Elias eventually withdrew the spiking claim.

Members of the panel also considered evidence about Elias's health and personal life - this was not made public.

During the case, his colleagues were called to give evidence.

One of them said Elias had expressed "deep regret" and "feels he has let himself, his colleagues and his family down".

Another colleague, also a consultant, said: "I do not condone the offence that Mark committed, and am aware that it was his own flaws and bad judgement that put him in this situation he has found himself in.

"I believe it has been Mark's personal struggles [redacted] that has led to this offence, which in my opinion [was] totally out of character."

The tribunal said it was satisfied Elias had "demonstrated good insight into the concerns arising from his behaviour that led to his conviction".

However, the tribunal also said it "recognised that Dr Elias's behaviour which led to his conviction was a result of his own recklessness of drinking an excessive amount of alcohol".

Before the hearing last month, Elias continued working at The Christie under interim conditions imposed by the GMC.

The NHS trust added: "In line with the Tribunal's decision, Dr Elias is suspended from the medical register and will not undertake clinical duties during this period.

"The trust respects the role of the independent regulator in maintaining professional standards and public confidence."

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