Disgraced psychiatrist William Kerr has been suspended by the General Medical Council - to the delight of former patients.

The Council's interim orders committee decided last night to suspend the retired York consultant for 18 months, pending further investigations.

The decision comes four months after Dr Kerr, 75, of Alne, near Easingwold, was found by a jury at Leeds Crown Court to have indecently assaulted a former patient.

Dr Kerr, who was considered unfit to plead, was found after a trial of fact to be not guilty of four indecent assaults and two rapes, with the jury unable to decide on ten allegations of assault and two of rape.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis today welcomed the suspension - but said he believed the doctor should automatically have been taken off the medical register in December when he was placed by a judge on the sex offenders' register.

Former patient Kathleen Haq, whose allegation of rape against Dr Kerr was found not proven by the jury, said she and other ex-patients were "very happy" with the GMC's decision.

"We hope this will be followed by him being struck off," said Mrs Haq, who has agreed to waive her right to anonymity.

Dr Kerr has applied for his name to be voluntarily erased from the GMC's medical register, but the council has not yet decided on this matter.

The council has requested information from North Yorkshire Health Authority, and the issue will be considered at a board workshop meeting next week.

Mr Willis said he opposed voluntary erasure.

"That is an easy cop-out for the GMC in not having to face up to the alleged misconduct of this doctor," he claimed.

Dr Kerr's solicitor was unavailable for comment today.

Updated: 12:00 Friday, April 20, 2001