A world-renowned knee surgeon was today (Thurs) found guilty of BITING his secretary as she leant over him.
David Johnson, 57, sank his teeth into Krysha James so hard he left a bruise which lasted two weeks – in what he later claimed was a ‘kiss’.
The consultant, who has treated international footballers, tennis players and rugby stars in a 25-year career, assaulted her in their shared office at a private hospital.
The father-of-two was found guilty of one count of assault by beating and branded ”arrogant” at Bristol Magistrates Court.
District Judge Lynne Matthews said: “Mr Johnson had been a friend to her for years, but what he did that day clearly upset and hurt her.
“Other members of staff spoke of her distress. Might it be the case that Miss James was operating a deceit? No, I am sure that she was not.
“The account given by Mr Johnson does not withstand close scrutiny. He noted that Miss James was upset on September 2 after he ‘nudged, pecked or kissed’ her arm.
“These were two friends who had worked together for years quite contentedly. How would such an action have caused upset?”
“Mr Johnson intentionally bit his secretary. He understands the consequences of such an action; it does not need a medic to appreciate the obvious.
“He did not intend to cause her serious injury, not did he. He rebuked her for putting her arm across him as she reached for paper.
“The rebuke was short in duration, but, as the expert told me, more than a ‘momentary nip’. It was not accidental.”
She added that the victim had not wanted to risk her job by making a formal complaint as it was against her financial interests to do so.
Johnson, who was accompanied to court by an unidentified woman, remained expressionless as the verdict was given.
He was ordered to pay £1,500 in costs and £600 compensation to the victim.
When giving evidence in his trial, he told the court he has lost £100,000 in earnings since the allegations surfaced.
The court previously heard that Johnson arrived at work to find mother-of-two Krysha speaking to her husband on the telephone about their joint aerial-fitting business.
He ‘appeared to react adversely’ to the conversation, prodding her in the back with a folder and joking that she was ‘working for other people’, the trial heard.
Father-of-two Johnson then wheeled his chair across the Portakabin office in the car park of the private hospital so he could sign medical records on her desk.
As she leant over him to pick up a pile of headed paper, he sank his teeth into her left arm just above the elbow ‘out of the blue’, Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard.
The trial heard that Johnson’s alleged bite was so forceful and prolonged that Krysha, who was wearing a short-sleeved jumper at the time, was left with painful red marks.
The secretary said she swore at him, saying: “You bloody bitch. You bit me. You don’t ever bite me. My kids don’t bite and my dogs don’t bite.'”
He allegedly responded, “Oh, sorry, did that hurt?”, almost like he was shocked that it hurt, before trying to rub her arm better.
He then rushed off to a clinic elsewhere and she told hospital colleagues, who examined the marks.
Krysha reported the ‘completely unprovoked’ assault, which allegedly took place just after 8.30am on September 2 last year, when she went into work the following day.
Single Johnson, of Sneyd Park, Bristol, was then suspended from his role at the Spire Bristol Hospital.
