Physician cleared of sexual assaults after second trial

A Newcastle physician accused of sexually assaulting patients during medical examinations has been acquitted of all remaining charges following a second trial.

Jeremy Coleman had faced a judge-alone retrial after a jury found him not guilty of 50 charges in September 2018 but was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining 16 counts.

After prosecutors decided not to proceed on three of those charges, on Friday NSW District Court Judge Craig Smith found him not guilty of 13 counts of sexual assault, indecent assault and common assault involving nine patients between August 2008 and November 2012.

Crown prosecutors told Sydney's Downing Centre District Court last month the 69-year-old conducted inappropriate breast and vaginal examinations which were not intended for any medical purpose but rather for the doctor's sexual gratification.

As a renowned immunologist, he saw patients for symptoms stemming from various causes including allergies, hormonal imbalances and mould.

Defence barrister Lisa-Claire Hutchinson told the court her client denied that some of the alleged touching and penetration even occurred and that when it did, there was a genuine medical reason for the examination.

"In respect of all counts, it is in dispute that the accused possessed or acted upon an intention to obtain sexual gratification," she said.

Dr Coleman's lawyers at Laxon Lex issued a statement on Friday saying the DPP's "cruel, punitive and bloody-minded" decision to proceed to the second trial was a waste of taxpayer dollars and court time.

It also had a devastating impact on Dr Coleman, his wife and their family, they said.

In addition to the initial costs awarded to Dr Coleman in what became the longest criminal trial in Newcastle's history, the lawyers said they were forced to run a second costs application given his substantial costs to defend himself a second time "in another trial without merit".