A YORK psychiatrist told police he had kissed and cuddled one of his patients during a "snogging session" at his clinic, Leeds Crown Court heard.

A jury was hearing the police interviews of retired consultant Dr Michael Haslam, 69, who is accused of raping or indecently assaulting three of his women patients.

Talking about when one of the women came to his clinic at The Retreat hospital, the doctor told police: "We ended up having a bit of a cuddle. It started out innocently. It was a 'snogging' session, fairly light-hearted."

At the end the two had decided they had "not been very clever".

"I said I did not think we should go on with a professional relationship after that because it was inappropriate. We agreed to discontinue the consultation," Dr Haslam told police.

Haslam, of Crayke, Easingwold, denies four indecent assaults and one charge of rape.

He told police that the Retreat patient initiated the kissing and denied indecently assaulting her when he examined her private parts on an earlier occasion.

The patient he allegedly raped told the jury she passed out when undergoing carbon dioxide treatment and came round to find him spread-eagled on top of her.

The doctor told police it was impossible to pass out during the treatment and he dismissed suggestions that he had climbed on top of her as she lay on a two-foot high hospital trolley.

The alleged rape victim has told the jury that he showed her sex aids and his hair piece came off when he sexually assaulted her.

The doctor told police he didn't wear a wig, but did have a hair infusion. He denied showing the woman sex aids.

He denied sexually fondling one of the women during a massage.

The defence was expected to start its case today.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, November 27, 2003