THE jury in the trial of a senior Dudley doctor accused of carrying out sex attacks on patients to fuel his "illicit sexual needs" will be retiring again today (Wednesday) to consider the evidence.

The three-man nine-woman jury went out to discuss the case for over three hours on Monday before reporting they had not come to a conclusion on any of the 18 charges faced by Jaswant Rathore.

The panel did not sit yesterday (Tuesday) because one of their members had a long standing commitment but they were returning to the court today (Wednesday) to continue their deliberations.

Rathore, of Ploughmans Walk, Wall Heath, has denied 18 charges of sexual assault alleged to have been carried out on eight women patients at Castle Meadows Surgery in Dudley between November 2008 and March 2015.

The prosecution alleged he touched the victims inappropriately during treatment for their medical problems leaving them shocked and embarrassed.

The actions of the doctor, claimed Heidi Kubik, prosecuting, went beyond what was proper treatment and it was an excuse for him to touch them sexually.

But in evidence the doctor told the jury everything he had done has been part of their treatment and not for his own sexual gratification.

The doctor, who was previously a clinical lead on Dudley Commissioning Group, said he had simply wanted to provide the women with the best possible care.