DETECTIVES believe a Hampshire police doctor jailed for 15 years for drugging and sexually assaulting young girls may have claimed more victims.

Officers who brought paedophile Dr Robert Wells to justice fear the sickening crimes of which he was convicted yesterday are just the tip of the iceberg.

There are also concerns as to how Wells managed to secure his job with the police despite appearing in court nine years ago accused of sexually assaulting two young girls.

Although he was cleared of the offences this was never brought to light despite thorough checks on his background by Hampshire police.

Officers have now appealed for anyone else who may have been assaulted by Wells to come forward. Detective Sara Glen, who led the investigation, said her team was convinced Wells had committed other similar offences.

She said: "We firmly believe the crimes Dr Wells was convicted of yesterday are not isolated incidents and we appeal for anyone who may have been a victim to come forward and we will investigate."

Wells, 52, was yesterday convicted of nine counts of abusing three girls - aged five to 11 - at his flat in Priory Avenue, St Denys, Southampton.

The jury of nine men and three women at Winchester Crown Court took seven hours and 30 minutes to reach their unanimous verdicts.

He was cleared of two further charges of rape and indecent assault on a five-year-old girl. He had denied all 11 charges.

Sentencing Wells, Judge Keith Cutler said: "These convictions will send a shiver down the spine of many, now fearful that your examination of them, some of them vulnerable or abused, gave you some form of perverted pleasure no doctor should enjoy.

"The behaviour is deeply disturbing and will no doubt have an impact on society's trust of the medical profession."

How could police doctor slip through? See pages two and three of today's Daily Echo.