A DISGRACED GP who exploited an out-of-hours health service for his own financial gain also conned staff and patients at his surgery out of more than £260,000.

Dr Ravi Sondhi used Croydoc, a GP-led company, as his own personal bank account, withdrawing more than £100,000 without the authority of the board.

A report, published yesterday, revealed how he ran the service, which served 950,000 people across south London, from his home in Norfolk, ignoring hundreds of phone calls from patients while claiming money for work he never did.

Lies, bullying, the incompetence of his fellow directors and the failure of  safeguards at several primary care trusts allowed Dr Sondhi's actions to go unchecked while chairman of Croydoc between 2006 and 2010.

One of the most shocking aspects of his duplicity was the way in which he conned patients and staff at Portland Road Medical Centre, his surgery in South Norwood.

In November 2009, his partners, Dr Sheila O'Hara and Dr Paddy Jackson, told NHS Croydon that three patients had entered into financial agreements with Dr Sondhi. Two others had similar arrangements but declined to be interviewed.

His first victim had been working in the practice for eight years and had been Dr Sondhi's patient for the previous four.

She asked if he would help her to buy a house, sharing the purchase because she could not afford it on her own.

The patient gave Dr Sondhi £110,000, who then bought a buy-to-rent house in his own name.

The patient thought her name would be added to the deeds but this was never done.

She now pays Dr Sondhi £200 a month towards the mortgage, but there is no evidence to indicate shared ownership. When challenged, the GP asked her to provide written evidence that he owed her £110,000.

The duped patient told investigators she trusted Dr Sondhi and had been won over by his "charisma".

He used his charm to con another woman who had money to invest.

This victim, his patient for 20 years, was a member of staff at Portland Medical Centre.

She had a lump sum from the sale of a house and wanted to buy a mobile home without a mortgage.

The report describes how Dr Sondhi persuaded her that "bricks and mortar" would be a better option.

"Because she could not get a mortgage he offered to purchase a property with her – they would each own 50%," the report said.

The woman gave Dr Sondhi £49,000 in 2003 and £41,000 in 2005.

Another GP advised her to seek legal advice but, in 2003, Dr Sondhi purchased a house and gave the patient a receipt for the money.

The patient assumed she owned the house but, in 2009, after learning about Dr Sondhi's financial difficulties, an internet search revealed the GP had registered the house in his wife, GP Salma Uddin's name.

Nothing on the land registry indicated she owned half the property. A further search showed a charge had been put on the house by the Bank of Ireland due to Dr Sondhi's debts.

When the patient confronted him at the end of 2009, Dr Sondhi said it would be better for to be given a trust document rather than be registered as an owner of the property.

Again she failed to take legal advice before signing the document.

It was eventually shown to a solicitor who explained the agreement meant that before she could sell the house, the mortgage and legal fees would have to be paid off.

In the end there would be no equity left, and a further charge was put on the property.

The report added: "Before Dr Sondhi was suspended she (the patient) expressed her concerns and asked him if she should be worried.

"He said he would tell her when to worry and reassured her that it would be alright.

"She feels devastated as she may now lose her house."

A third patient approached Dr Sondhi on his second victim's recommendation. He gave the GP £60,000 to invest.

The man was unwilling to be interviewed but has "accepted the loss of his capital".

Dr Sondhi – referred to as Dr A in the report - abused the trust placed in him by his patients, exploiting their faith in him for his own benefit. He refused to reveal how many patients he had entered into financial agreements with.

"The fundamental reason why patients entered into financial agreements with Dr A was that they believed, as their doctor, they trusted him implicitly to act in their best interests," the report said.

Dr Sondhi was sacked in 2010 and is currently suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC). It is feared he may have fled the country.

Portland Medical Centre was threatened with closure after Dr Sondhi's NHS agreement was terminated when he entered into an individual voluntary agreement due to his mounting debts.

The centre was saved after the contract was awarded to his partners Dr O'Hara and Dr Jackson, who refused to comment on Dr Sondhi when contacted by the Advertiser this week.

NHS South West London's joint medical director Dr Dave Finch described the report's findings as "appalling".

Other GPs named in the report have been subject to NHS performance review, which has been sent to the GMC.

Dr Uddin, referred to as "Dr B", has been struck off for a bullying campaign against staff at care home Little Hayes, in Kenley.

Two other GPs were cleared and another with face NHS Croydon's performance panel at the end of the month.

NHS Croydon said it had "no idea" as to Dr Sondhi's whereabouts.

The trust is taking advice as to whether police action is appropriate.

Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks called for the police and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to investigate.

He said: "One GP seized the chance, through the privatisation of an essential health service, to run things not in the interests of patients, but for personal gain."

For more on Dr Sondhi and Croydoc, see this week's Croydon Advertiser out tomorrow (Friday).