A GP branded a “sexual octopus” by a female patient has been found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Dr Neil Hughes sent “indecent and inappropriate” text messages to the patient, Miss A, the General Medical Council (GMC) concluded.

Miss A, 33, from Liverpool, first went to see Dr Hughes at a diet clinic in Burnley in January 1998.

The GMC rejected Miss A’s sexual claims and said Dr Hughes, of Bramhall, Stockport, would not be struck off. It accepted the relationship he had with his patient was not “of a sexual nature”.

The GMC gave the married GP a reprimand and warned him not to repeat his behaviour.

Dr Hughes had denied any sexual behaviour but admitted swapping mobile phone numbers with the patient and sending her text messages.

The doctor apologised for his behaviour and the GMC concluded his it was at the “lower end of the spectrum” of misconduct.

It did not consider him a risk to patients.