A FORMER North Yorkshire paramedic has been struck off after a pensioner claimed he indecently assaulted her.

But Garry Fordham, 38, of Rawcliffe Lane, Clifton, protested his innocence today in the wake of the London hearing.

Fordham, an ambulance worker and paramedic for 15 years, came to York from London to become station officer at York ambulance station in 1996.

But after the woman complained about him he was sacked by the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS) in September, 2000.

And yesterday Fordham's disgrace was complete when he was struck off his profession's register by the Paramedics Disciplinary Board in London.

The board heard that police began investigating Fordham after an 84-year-old York woman claimed she had been touched on her chest when he had visited her home while off duty.

While officers were at her house, Mr Fordham rang again and they told her to arrange for him to visit later that day.

This time the police were watching through the keyhole, and an officer stepped in after Mr Fordham began to examine her again.

At the hearing, Sgt Paul Warner, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "I couldn't allow him to continue any more. I was concerned for the woman's safety, so I confronted him.

"I introduced myself and he said 'It's all right. I'm Garry Fordham, you know me. It's just a follow-up visit. I'm a paramedic.'"

Mr Fordham was not charged with any offence but he was disciplined and sacked by the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service in September, 2000. He did not appeal against the decision.

The father-of-two told the Evening Press today: "By that point I didn't want to do the job any more.

"I had given a loyal 15 years service, with no disciplinary record, and I was being treated like this. My wife and I were devastated and we just wanted to move on from the whole affair."

In written evidence to the hearing the woman, who remains anonymous, said: "I believe he indecently assaulted me and I certainly did not agree with such actions."

Committee chairman Ken Wenman said at the hearing: "Mr Fordham used his position to gain access to and seek out a relationship with the woman and as such it is infamous conduct in a professional respect."

Mr Fordham told the Evening Press that he went to the house after he had heard the pensioner was poorly. He said on both occasions he was wearing his uniform but was off duty.

"I protest my innocence. Everything was done with the best of intentions. I remembered the lady after we had helped her some time before and she had stuck out in my mind. I'd heard she was unwell and I thought she may not be getting much care so I wanted to see if I could help.

"There was never any intention of wrongdoing in my mind. I was checking her chest with my stethoscope when the police burst in. I didn't know what was going on."

Mr Fordham, who now works as an electricity meter reader, did not attend the hearing. He said he did not know it was taking place this week.

He added: "I was acting in what I thought was a caring manner and it all got mixed up."

Tim Lynch, director of patient services for TENYAS, said: "TENYAS disciplined Garry Fordham on September 29 2000 following a full investigation and disciplinary hearing. The reason for the dismissal is between the individual and the trust."

Fordham is the first paramedic to have been struck off the state-registered Paramedics Board, set up in early 2000 and governed by the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine.

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, March 27, 2002