A HAMPSHIRE psychiatrist had an affair with a patient and made sexual comments about another, a hearing was told.

Now married father of two Dr Joseph Bray faces being struck off by a fitness to practice tribunal.

The tribunal heard Bray began flirting with a woman known as Patient B during counselling sessions and later began a sexual relationship with her.

During three consultations he stroked Patient B’s hair, kissed her on the side of the head and told her “if only I was 20 years younger”.

Mr Williams said the consultations ‘crossed boundaries’, including giving out his personal email address, and added: “The doctor has demonstrated that he is willing to cross boundaries of a relationship with Patient B and to go all the way to a full-blown relationship.”

The tribunal also heard he treated a patient who came to him for help coping with her husband’s womanising by comparing her appearance against her husband’s mistress.

Bray allegedly told the woman, known only as Patient A, “men aren’t biologically programmed for monogamy,” and added: ‘‘When my wife dies, I will shag as many women as I can.’’

The hearing was told in a ‘crudely-worded’ consultation Bray, 57, used Google to search for pictures of the mistress and then compared their physical appearances.

Patient A was said to feel ‘’awkward and uncomfortable’’ over the counselling she received from Bray after she attended the £3,000 a week Priory Hospital, Southampton, in ‘‘emotional distress.’’

Paul Williams, counsel for General Medical Council, told the tribunal in Manchester.

“Dr Bray’s persistent focus on the context of emails received by the husband made her feel awkward and uncomfortable. She felt it was sufficient to say the content was explicit.

“She says she found it distressing and unprofessional for the doctor to Google her husband’s mistress and begin passing comments about women.

“These are utterly inappropriate remarks during a consultation and so deeply sexualised in nature.

"She says it was unprofessional for him to make personal remarks regarding her appearance, even if complimentary.”

Mr Williams added: “The conversation turned from simple relationship matters to physical appearance, attraction and discussing sexual matters.”

The consultant, who lives in the New Forest, had been working at The Priory Hospital since 2007.

Bray admits acting inappropriately during his consultation with Patient A but denies his conduct was sexually motivated.

He admits all allegations regarding his conduct and inappropriate, sexual relationship with Patient B.