Dentist facing fresh sex assault charges in court

A dentist and former councillor is due to appear in Lincoln Magistrates Court again today charged with two further offences of sexually assaulting female patients.

Dr Adrian Heath is due before magistrates in Lincoln – and also faces an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The 43 year-old former Liberal Democrat politician stood trial at Nottingham Crown Court in September on three counts of sexual assault on female patients at Genesis Dental Care in Gainsborough.

But a judge suspended the trial and the jury was dismissed after new evidence was offered to the prosecution.

Heath – who is a former West Lindsey district councillor and stood for the Lib-Dems in the Gainsborough constituency at the last General Election in 2005 – had denied three charges of sexual assault between June and August last year.

Now police have revealed that a fourth female made aware of press coverage of the trial has made further allegations concerning Heath's conduct.

He is now due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates' Court today in relation to these new charges, which are expected to be committed for trial at crown court.

"It is anticipated that a new trial date will be set for March 2010," a Lincolnshire Police spokesman said.

"This fourth woman approached police after reading about the trial in the local press.

"Lincolnshire Police are continuing with their investigation into the conduct of Mr Heath while he was working at a number of practices.

"And we would appeal to any person, or former patient, who has any information that they believe may be relevant to the inquiry to make contact."

During the 2005 General Election, Heath came second to Conservative Party veteran and sitting MP Edward Leigh.

Mr Leigh took a convincing fifth win in a row by polling nearly 8,000 votes more than Liberal Democrat candidate Heath.

But Heath beat the Labour candidate into second place taking 12,027 votes compared to Labour's 11,744.

During his campaign, Heath said he wished he had not revealed his day job.

He said the worst thing he had ever done was to say he was an NHS dentist on his election material because people had started asking for quotes on root canals rather than talking about election issues.