A former prison doctor has denied touching two inmates in a sexual manner and said he was "surprised, shocked and very upset" that a complaint was made against him.

Dr John Anthony Sykes, of Cleckheaton, is appearing in front of the General Medical Council's Professional Con-duct Committee in Man-chester to investigate whether he carried out the intimate examinations - while he was a prison doctor at Armley Jail in Leeds - without clinical justification.

It is alleged that his actions were indecent, unprofessional and an abuse of his professional position.

Referring to an inmate - known as Patient B - whom Dr Sykes treated in Armley, Christina Lambert, for Dr Sykes, asked him: "Did you find Patient B attractive?"

He replied "No."

She then asked him: "Did you touch him in a sexual way?" to which he replied: "No."

He said Patient B visited him complaining of a pain in the groin and scrotum and he examined him on the examination couch in his (Dr Sykes's room).

He confirmed that he would have felt Patient B's external genitalia and testicles as part of the examination.

Dr Sykes denied enjoying it.

He said he put Patient B on call-up the following week because he was worried that an infection with which he had been diagnosed the previous month might have returned.

He denied discussing circumcision with the patient and that he fondled him.

He admitted trying to see patient B in his cell on four occasions and said it was to check on a dosage of tablets he had prescribed.

Dr Sykes said he was "very puzzled" as to Patient B's reasons for complaining.

Dr Sykes denied sexually abusing another inmate - Patient D - molesting him or finding him attractive.

He also denied touching him with a sexual motive or buying him whisky while he was in prison.

He admitted collecting Patient D after his release from another prison and taking him shopping.

The hearing continues.