Harley Street dentist to the stars is suspended for six months for having sex with a patient after wining and dining her at the Savoy

Dr Sahil Patel is pictured arriving at the  General Dental Council in London 

A Harley Street dentist to the stars has been suspended for six months for having sex with a patient after wining and dining her at the Savoy.

Dr Sahil Patel, 28, admitted to a sexual relationship with the attractive single mother after he had treated her, however he tried to argue that she was no longer his patient and so could not be guilty of professional misconduct.

But a disciplinary committee of the General Dental Council rejected his claim and found he had breached their code of conduct with his 'inappropriate behaviour.'

Speaking after the verdict, the woman, known as Patient A, said ‘justice had been served’ by the ban.

She had booked an appointment with Dr Patel at the Harley St Smile Clinic to have veneers fitted.

After her treatment Dr Patel gave her his personal mobile phone number and they met for drinks at a pub in Fulham, West London.

They met a second time at a pub and after she travelled to the clinic for an appointment on November 1, 2019 - and he arranged to meet her later that night at the luxury Savoy Hotel.

They spent the evening together and around midnight Dr Patel falsely told her he had missed his last train home. They went to her hotel room at the Savoy where they had sex.

After the one night stand the patient said she tried contacting Dr Patel several times, but he failed to return her calls.

He was accused of wining and dining a single mother at the Savoy hotel while she was still one of his patients and having sex with the woman, known as 'Patient A'

After she was rejected, she made a complaint to the professional standards committee of the General Dental Council.

Giving evidence she told the GDC hearing in Marylebone, Central London, that she felt ‘used and abused’ by the dentist.

Dr Patel admitted having sex with the patient but claimed she chased him and actively pursued the relationship.

His lawyer told the GDC she was not a current patient as her treatment had been completed when they slept together and so the charge of professional misconduct was not valid.

This was rejected by the disciplinary committee who found that Patient A was still under the care of Dr Patel.

The GDC panel found that the dentist's behaviour was ‘inappropriate’ and fell below the standard expected of a dentist.

In a 17-page ruling they said: The Committee was in no doubt that starting a personal relationship with Patient A and engaging in sexual intercourse with her, was behaviour that represented a serious departure from the professional standards of your regulatory body.

Further, the Committee was satisfied that you were aware that your conduct was inappropriate. It noted that your concern surrounding the ‘patient-dentist’ relationship was a feature in the personal messages you exchanged with Patient A, as was the need for subtlety in the circumstances. In the Committee’s view, this indicated that you were knowingly behaving in a way that was not open, not straightforward, and which was contrary to professional expectation.’

The patient said despite the ordeal of having her personal life raked over she would encourage other women to come forward.

A disciplinary hearing at the General Dental Council rejected his claim that she was no longer a patient and said he breached their code of conduct with his 'inappropriate behaviour'

She said: 'He abused his position and he lied to get what he wanted and played on my vulnerabilities.

'I am relieved that justice was served and the GDC was able to see though his lies to try and save his career.’

She said giving evidence and being quizzed about her personal life was traumatic.

‘I was sedated for three days afterwards because it caused me so much stress,’ she said.

‘To go through eight hours of being told I am a liar, exaggerating and it was all my fault was wrong.

‘Portraying me as ‘asking for it’ and having my entire life ripped to shreds by his barrister was just awful.’

Dr Patel can appeal the sentence. His ban will only start once the appeal has been heard.

The Harley Street Smile Clinic lists former Everton and Scotland striker Andy Gray among its clients as well as TOWIE stars including Lauren Pope, James Lock, Frankie Essex and Kirk Norcross.

According to the Harley Street Smile Clinic's website he 'established himself as a leader in cosmetic dentistry, and his wealth of experience has included creating the smiles of several reality TV personalities, Members of Parliament, professional athletes, and social media influencers.'

A spokesman for the Harley St. clinic was unavailable for comment.