A Bradford pharmacist has been suspended for nine months after behaving in a sexually inappropriate way to two former colleagues.

Imran Younis, 37, who was a director and shareholder in MedPharm Ventures Ltd, trading as Pharmacy4Homes, appeared before the General Pharmaceutical Council’s fitness to practice committee to face allegations made by two female former colleagues.

Ms X and Ms Y, who worked with Younis separately in 2013 and 2014-15, claimed he made inappropriate comments and that his conduct was sexually motivated and an abuse of his position.

While initially denying the allegations in a statement on July 31 this year, he filed an eleventh-hour amended statement on August 10 withdrawing the previous denials.

Although he admitted his words and actions were an abuse of position, he maintained the comments were not sexually motivated.

Younis resigned as director of MedPharm Ventures Ltd, listed at 90 Otley Road, Shipley, on July 12, according to Companies House records. Ms X and Ms Y gave evidence to the panel via video link. It heard that Younis had asked Ms X if she had visited strip clubs, repeatedly stared at her, told her he could not get work done because she was a distraction and tried to kiss her at the pharmacy.

It also heard he had stroked Ms X’s leg while they were travelling in a car together, made suggestive comments in relation to lyrics of a song, told Ms X that she had only been employed because he liked her and asked her if she would like to watch pornography with him.

Younis said he liked Ms X and enjoyed her company and that he had “misinterpreted signals that weren’t there” and that his actions had been “affectionate” rather than “sexually aggressive gropes”.

The panel heard Younis’ attempt to kiss her at the pharmacy was a “miscalculation or a misjudgement” and was an attempt made on the spur of the moment. Under cross examination, Younis agreed he “fancied” the woman.

Ms X told the panel that Younis’ conduct was unwelcome and was at no time encouraged or reciprocated. She said Younis’ behaviour began to affect her personal and professional life and that she did not want to be around him.

The allegations from Ms Y also related to a series of comments and incidents. In one, he said to a colleague he would “rag her senseless” and that he was “trying to get” Ms Y and “would not stop trying until he did”.

Younis said such comments were “boys in the pharmacy talking”.

He described his appearance before the committee as “a chastening experience” and that he would not repeat such behaviour again.

The panel also heard Younis had filmed Ms Y on the webcam of his laptop. The findings said: “The committee concluded that the registrant’s comments and conduct, taken in the round, as found proven, were not capable of bearing any interpretation other than being sexually motivated.”

The panel heard there had been no similar complaints since the conduct relating to Ms X and Ms Y and while those incidents had been “reprehensible and unacceptable” they were not at the highest end in the range of sexually motivated misconduct. However, the committee considered the conduct to be serious and the breaches of professional standards significant.