A SHAMED psychiatrist struck off 13 years ago for groping a female patient has failed in his bid to have his name restored to the medical register – because he has not learned his lesson.

Eighty-four-year-old John Harding Price was banned in 2000 when a General Medical Council (GMC) committee found him guilty of professional misconduct towards three women patients.

He was working as a GP in Lincoln when he forced a teenage girl to sit in her underwear for 30 minutes while he checked her notes.

He also bombarded another woman with suggestive questions and told her she was sexually frustrated.

And he asked a third woman a question of a sexual nature when she complained of a headache at the Grimsby Primary Care Centre in September 1999.

He faced a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) fitness to practise hearing this week to try to get his name restored to the medical register.

The panel found his lack of insight and respect for the regulatory body as well as the amount of time he had been out of practise would undermine the public confidence in the profession if he were allowed to return to practice and refused his application.

Tribunal panel chairman Dr Sarah Jarvis said: "The panel has no evidence to indicate that you have gained any understanding, appreciation or insight into the gravity of your misconduct in 2000 which led to your erasure.

"Instead there has been a continued and repeated pattern of challenging the findings.

"There have been no expressions of remorse and regret.

"Instead you fervently deny any wrong-doing and the panel is not reassured, given your history and almost 13 years' denial of the findings made by the PCC in 2000, that lessons have been learnt and that such events would not occur again.

"You have failed to bring evidence to demonstrate that you are fit to practise."

Harding Price previously failed in an application to be restored to the register in 2007 and has now been suspended from reapplying indefinitely.

Harding Price, representing himself, raised concerns in his opening submissions over the treatment of a Lincoln Partnership NHS trust patient known as Patient E, who died in September 2012.

But the GMC said that case had little to do with his application to be restored to the register, particularly since the panel have no power to go behind previous decisions made by other courts – including the High Court.

Dr Harding Price was warned that criminal proceedings could follow if he had practised as a doctor after he was struck off.

He said: "I think throughout this everyone has known I was not on the GMC register.

"It was published in the press – they took every opportunity to publish it.

"I have never for one moment presented myself as a registered legal practitioner under the GMC.

"People have come to see me and I have said 'look, I am not on the GMC'."

Dr Harding Price is still registered with the Medical Council of Ireland.

ON THE WEB: Read the article printed in the Grimsby Telegraph in 2000, when Dr Harding Price was struck off, at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

A BUSINESSMAN has donated £5,000 to the Girl Guides whose camping equipment was stolen after reading about it on the front page of the Telegraph.

He wants to remain anonymous, and his generosity has delighted the 80 devastated youngsters.

As reported, leaders of the 1st Cleethorpes and 2nd Humberston Guides were forced to cancel a camping trip after thieves stole 24 tents, a number of gas cookers, and two gazebos worth £5,000 from their base in Sandringham Road, Cleethorpes.

The semi-retired businessman, from Healing, contacted the newspaper after reading about the theft.

He said: "They might think I am a crackpot. Maybe I am, but Father Christmas does exist and he has come early."

"I want to replace everything because I am absolutely livid about what has happened.

"If I can put a smile back on these kids' faces, then it will make my day.

"I thought it was deplorable and thought I had to do something. Maybe we could all go shopping. It would be good to get on the internet and get all the goods they need."

It is one of many donations the group has received since the incident was reported at the weekend.

Girl Guides divisional commissioner Allison Wood was "blown away" by the generosity shown by the community.

Breaking the news of the £5,000 offer, she said: "Wow, I can't believe it! I would never have thought that in my life. I don't know what to say. I am gob- smacked."

She said her phone had been inundated with offers of cookers, tents and cash.

"There is a very generous group of people in the community," she said.

"It flies in the face of people who have no morals whatsoever.

"It shows there are some great people out there.

"Words are not enough to say thank you. I am blown away."

Another anonymous donor came to the Grimsby Telegraph offices first thing yesterday morning to hand over £100 in cash.

The former scout leader said he was incensed when he read the front page story on Saturday.

"What the thieves are going to do with the gear I do not know," he said. "But I want to give them £100 and hope that others will follow my example and help them get new camping equipment.

"If I could have afford more then I would have given them more.

"I promised that if I had won the lottery at the weekend they would have had the whole £5,000 for the value of the stolen equipment.

"This is just an initial gesture in the hope that others will follow suit.

"I know what pleasure Guides and Scouts and Brownies get out of camping.

"Today, it is a far cry from my days on camp when we had to dig our own pits and find wood for a shelter. Nowadays the tents put themselves up.

"We used to have a lot of fun at Cherry Garth.

"I have done a lot of maintenance at Cherry Garth to help and I have been all over the country on camp.

"As a teenager, every weekend you would see me with a rucksack on my back heading off on camp."

THE father of Grimsby murder victim Claire Wilson has appeared in court charged with sexually abusing four young girls.

Stuart Wilson, 52, of Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, is charged with one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, 16 counts of indecent assault and one of supplying heroin, between September 1987 and September 2003.

His daughter Claire, 21, was six months pregnant when she was stabbed to death on Sunday, June 7, 2009, as she walked to work at Pizza Hut in Grimsby.

Her killer, Alan McMullan, is serving a life sentence after being convicted of the murder of the mum-to-be in the brutal knife attack – a tragedy which hit the national headlines.

At the time of McMullan's conviction in May 2010, Wilson made a public statement in which he said he would "never forgive" McMullan for his crime, which he said had "shocked the world".

Yesterday, Wilson, who denies all the charges against him, appeared at Grimsby Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Sharp told the court it was believed Wilson had abused four girls – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – over a period of years.

It is claimed he continued to abuse one of the women into her adult life.

Mr Sharp told the court that in relation to this woman, she claimed what started off as minor incidents when she was aged just 10 years old, had escalated to rape when she was a teenager.

He added that as a result of the alleged rape, the woman claimed she became pregnant, but miscarried – disposing of the baby's remains in a garden.

She claims he later attempted to rape her on further occasions, but was physically unable to do so.

The woman further alleges that on encountering Wilson as an adult, he took advantage of her then drug addiction, supplying her with heroin in exchange for sex in 2003, after which she had no further contact with him.

He is also accused of committing three acts of indecent assault on another girl when she was aged between seven and 13.

Wilson is also said to have indecently assaulted a third girl – aged between eight to 10 – on two occasions and on one occasion, a fourth girl, aged between five and seven.

The court yesterday watched the first of three video interviews given to the police by the first alleged victim.

The trial is due to continue throughout the week.

SCOTT Neilson has described his sensational return to Grimsby Town as a case of 'right place, right time'.

As revealed on our website www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/sport, the 25-year-old has signed a one-year-deal at Blundell Park.

He starred for the Mariners during a three-month loan spell earlier in the season.

When that dazzling temporary stay in Cleethorpes came to an end, Neilson took the decision to move closer to his home in the south, and joined Town's league rivals Luton Town.

However, he admits that things didn't work out as planned with the Hatters, and after leaving Kenilworth Road, he has now come full circle by re-signing with the Mariners.

The former Crawley man hinted that a return to North East Lincolnshire may have been on the cards when he spoke exclusively to the Telegraph earlier this month.

And now after finally sealing the deal, he says he's already looking forward to making his second Mariners 'debut'.

"It felt weird driving up here again but it's good to be back," he said.

"Obviously last time it was just a loan spell, but now that I'm back here permanently, I can't wait to get started again," he said.

"I've been in contact with the gaffers since I left and I'm glad to have finally got something sorted.

"They both knew I really enjoyed it when I was here, but it just wasn't the right time to move here permanently.

"But it definitely feels like the right time to make the move now.

Neilson, who is looking to relocate to the area, continued: "I could have gone to another club and I might not have got on there – I went to Luton and it didn't really work out there to be honest – but I've come back here and I feel like I can fit in perfectly.

"I know what it's like here and feel comfortable.

"I've been talking to the gaffers and from day one – they've just been talking sense and I like that.

"They know what they want to do with this club and I like that.

"I could have waited – it's only the beginning of May after all – and saw what my options were, but the managers were straight up and said 'this is how it is' and we got it done. It's a new start for me and I can't wait."

Neilson will find that the Mariners squad has changed drastically since his time on the east coast, following the release of eight players earlier this month.

But he believes there is still plenty of quality in the dressing room, and with a summer of transfer activity ahead – added that Town will be well-equipped for a promotion push next season.

He added: "After I left, I was looking out for Town's results and at one point they just kept winning and winning and I thought, 'they're going to go up straight away'.

"But then they started slipping and unfortunately they didn't make it and it was a shame – but hopefully we can go better next season.

"I know they've got rid of a few lads, but if you look at it, there's still real quality here.

"There's a bit of experience and the team spirit is really good here.

"I've spoken to the gaffers and they're looking to bring in another six or seven lads – maybe a few more – over the summer.

"And with the players that are already here, there's no reason why we can't go up next season."

NEW £80 residents' parking permits will be introduced in North East Lincolnshire at the end of next month.

The new price will take effect from June 28, with the existing £15-a-year permits expiring on July 1.

Under the new scheme, which was approved by the council's Cabinet yesterday, blue badge holders will receive their permits for free, and there will be a 45 per cent discount for people eligible for housing benefit and a council tax reduction.

The new permits will be electronic, and residents will be able to pay in monthly, quarterly, or six-monthly instalments.

These concessions were proposed in the wake of an outcry from existing permit holders, who described the 433 per cent increase in the cost of a permit as "extortionate".

Some councillors called for a phased increase, initially to £40, to lessen the burden on residents, but the council said it needed to charge £80 to cover the cost of issuing and enforcing the permits.

None of the residents'-only parking schemes previously paying £15 will continue beyond June, as not enough residents wanted to pay the new charge.

However, residents in College Street, Cleethorpes, which previously had unrestricted parking, have signed up for the new permits.

The council will consider applications for permit schemes in areas where 51 per cent of residents wish to sign up – a reduction on the 80 per cent previously required.

Councillor Peter Wheatley, portfolio holder for regeneration and environment, said: "The scheme will be beneficial to certain areas in the borough and £1.54 a week to be able to park close to your home is very good value for money.

"We have introduced the concession which shows we are a sympathetic council."

THE first phase of Freeman Street's long-awaited regeneration is being eagerly anticipated by traders, who hope the changes will breathe new life into Grimsby's one-time premier shopping street.

The contract to carry out public realm improvements on the street between Nelson Street and Hainton Square was yesterday awarded to Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd.

Work is due to begin in June.

But although businesses believe the facelift will make the street much more attractive, some remain to be convinced that it will bring in the shoppers.

This first phase of the regeneration scheme, which should be completed by December, includes:

Enhancements to Garibaldi Street car park, including resurfacing and reinstating the second entrance.

Resurfacing of the road and pavements, including the reintroduction of the right turn into Wellington Street.

De-cluttering through the removal of some signs, barriers and lighting.

New street lighting with banners at key locations.

As part of the redevelopment, two on-street parking spaces opposite the market hall will be removed. However, on-street parking will be increased by eight spaces overall.

Josephine O'Brien, 19, owner of Pink, a retro secondhand shop, said: "Anything to bring this street up to a better standard than it is now has to be a good thing. There is a lot of character in Freeman Street and it needs to be kept alive.

Josephine, whose dad owns Convert Gold 4 Cash next door, added: "My dad has bought two shops in this street now as he believes they are worth investing in.

"I would encourage other traders to open shops here and create a more lively atmosphere – securing the bigger retailers would be good."

Sonja Morton, co-owner of Shelly & Sonja's Freeman Street Diner, said: "I hope the redevelopment will attract the larger retail businesses back onto the street. With them comes more shoppers, which is what we need.

"We have no doubt that this scheme will make the street look a lot more attractive, but looks alone will not bring in the shoppers."

Hawer Mohammed, of Arian News, Freeman Street, said: "If you look outside the shop it is dead. It is the same story each day, so something has to change.

"I hope the redevelopment will bring some life back to the street, but I am not getting my hopes up."

THE speed limit on the A18 in North East Lincolnshire will be reduced to 50mph.

Council bosses yesterday agreed to implement the proposed reduction from 60mph, along with a series of other speed limit changes across the borough.

The decision comes just over a month after five people were killed in a horrific crash on the road.

As reported, five members of the Cockburn family died when their car was in a head-on collision with a lorry between the Oaklands Hotel and Laceby Manor Golf Club on April 12.

The incident was just the latest in a long line of fatal accidents to occur on the road, which has been dubbed as one of Britain's most dangerous.

The new 50mph limit will apply to the ten-mile stretch of Barton Street between the Laceby roundabout and the borough boundary at Ludborough, a section described as 25 times more dangerous than the average British motorway in a 2011 BBC documentary entitled Britain's Killer Roads.

Councillors have also proposed introducing a 40mph limit on the section of the A18 between the Beelsby and Hatcliffe Junctions.

However, PC Barry Gardner, Humberside Police casualty reduction officer, expressed concerns that enforcing a 40mph limit with a 50mph zone would prove difficult.

The 40mph limit proposal will be formally advertised for public consultation, giving members of the public a chance to make objections.

The 50mph limit will be introduced without further consultation as this proposal has already been formally advertised, and work to install the new signs will begin within the next six weeks.

As previously reported, the proposal to reduce the speed limit to 50mph on the A18 was announced in February last year as part of a range of speed limit reductions across the borough.

Despite a petition objecting to some of the proposals, the then environment portfolio holder Councillor Alex Wallace approved the proposed changes, which were duly advertised.

But when Councillor Peter Wheatley took over the post in May last year, he agreed to demands from some councillors to put the plans on hold and set up a select committee to examine them in more detail.

After hearing evidence from a range of experts and interested parties, including motoring organisations, cycling groups, ward councillors, behavioural psychologists, and road safety officers from other local authorities, the select committee published its recommendations in March.

These included a number of minor revisions, including the proposed 40mph limit on the A18.

However, in most cases, Councillor Wheatley opted to approve the original proposals.

ON THE WEB: Do you agree with the new speed limit on the A18? Or do you have an opposing view? Have your say here.