A RETIRED York psychiatrist has been charged with rape and indecent assault.

Former Clifton Hospital consultant Michael Haslam, 68, of Crayke, near Easingwold, faces one charge of rape and four of indecent assault.

Dr Haslam's solicitor, John Howard, said today he denied the allegations and intends to vigorously contest them in court. The charges are understood to follow an investigation into complaints from a number of former patients. Police said a 68-year-old North Yorkshire man had been released on bail after being charged with rape and four indecent assaults and would appear before York Magistrates on Friday.

A spokesman added that the charges related to three different women complainants. Dr Haslam worked at Clifton Hospital for many years before leaving in the 1980s. He retired several years ago. He is one of two former North Yorkshire psychiatrists at the centre of an independent inquiry set up by Health Secretary Alan Milburn last year to examine the way the NHS handled complaints against them. Inquiry secretary Pauline Fox said today the inquiry had already been slowed down. "We will now consider whether it needs to be put on hold, in the light of yesterday's developments."

Updated: 12:33 Wednesday, December 11, 2002