A former York psychiatrist sexually abused his patients and then told some of them; don't complain because nobody will believe you; a court heard today.

Dr William Kerr, now aged 75, of Alne, near Easingwold, said to one patient; "The state you are in who would believe you?" Paul Worsley QC, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court.

On one occasion, Kerr told a patient he would not give consent for her to receive an abortion if she complained.

A jury was this afternoon beginning to determine whether Dr Kerr carried out four rapes and 15 indecent assaults on a total of 15 women patients between the 1960's and 1980s at York, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Ferrensby and Newton-on-Ouse.

A different jury decided earlier this year that Dr Kerr was unfit to plead and so the the current hearing is to determine whether he did the alleged acts.

The hearing continues.