Unqualified Antonio Gobbato carried out internal examinations on female patients

A bogus doctor who carried out intimate examinations on his patients has been convicted of sexual assault and fraud offences.

Antonio Gobbato, 51, claimed to have qualified in Portugal in massage, homeopathy, iridology, acupuncture and herbal medicines.

In reality he had no qualifications and duped his victims with a white coat, certificates and a stethoscope.

Between August 2009 and June 2010, the Portuguese trickster, who went by the name Fabio, practiced from various addresses in London including Kilburn and at the time of his arrest was practicing in Stockwell, south London.

Inner London Crown Court heard his patients were mainly from Brazil and other Portuguese speaking communities, who he exploited as he spoke Portuguese and recognised that some could not access NHS services due to their immigration status.

Gobbato sexually assaulted women by carrying out unnecessary internal examination during medical consultations.

He also cruelly told one father his young daughter had an infection which could turn into Leukaemia if left untreated by performing a finger-prick blood test on the girl and another patient trusted Gobbato’s diagnosis so much that he convinced her to pay thousands for him to accompany her and her family to Italy; under the guise he could treat her husband’s alcoholism.

When the husband refused to travel, Gobbato turned his focus to the woman’s daughter claiming he could cure her depression.

His scam was uncovered after the General Medical Council launched an investigation in response to complaints about his conduct from female patients.

He was arrested in June 2010 and yesterday he was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted fraud and one count of fraud.

Detective Chief Inspector Seb Florent, who led the investigation said: “Antonio Gobbato is a fraudster and a trickster. He pretended to be a doctor and people trusted him but he exploited their trust, purely so he could take advantage of them and gain financially.

“I am pleased that he has been convicted today and his shocking activities have come to light. I would urge anyone who has been a victim of Antonio Gobbato to contact the police.”

Gobbato will be sentenced on July 13.