A nurse accused of seducing three anorexic patients had women queuing up for his "perversion of psychotherapy", an inquiry heard.

Charismatic David Britten, 50, of Shortgate Lane, Laughton, near Lewes, used his "personality cult" to have sex with the women during unauthorised therapy sessions, it was alleged.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council inquiry in London investigating eight misconduct charges against Britten was told yesterday he lied to patients, telling them he was a qualified therapist who could help them with their illness.

Women were "lining up outside his room" for meetings with Britten, it was claimed.

The hearing was told the registered nurse and clinical manager won his patients' sympathy by claiming he was terminally ill with cancer and that his fiance had died in an horrific car crash.

He then allegedly had oral sex and intercourse with three of them in his locked office during "one-to-one" sessions at the Peter Dally Clinic in Vincent Square, near Victoria in London.

Dr Jessica Kirker, a consultant psychiatrist in charge of therapy at the clinic, told the inquiry: "I think it was a perversion of psychotherapy."

The expert said Britten lied about his activities in 1998 after an investigation was launched into rumours about his conduct.

Dr Kirker said Britten had stopped going to staff meetings and had claimed senior doctors "were not qualified" to supervise him.

In November 1998, reports reached medical staff that Britten had allegedly been "touching and physically cuddling staff".

Britten ignored orders to stop and continued his activities when he was treating patients for diet disorders, the hearing was told.

Dr Kirker said it was "potentially extremely harmful" for vulnerable patients to have unauthorised therapy sessions.

She added: "I gradually became concerned there was something more actively harmful going on as well.

"It seemed to me the moment I became aware he was seeing patients regularly and for long periods of time without supervision, I thought it was very dangerous.

"This was hearsay. When I spoke to him about it he denied he was doing any. Staff, and occasionally patients, were coming to me and telling me what was going on."

She continued: "I believe he did not tell me the truth and he lied.

"There were threats made. I certainly felt that atmosphere and intimidation.

"I used to leave the clinic and see if my car had been torched."

Dr Kirker said that, finally, psychiatric services were withdrawn from the clinic to nearby Gordon Hospital in Bloomburg Street in a bid to stop the problem.

The inquiry has heard how Britten charmed the women by taking them out for dinner and went with one patient for a romantic four-day break in Somerset.

Britten also helped two of them find flats near the clinic when they became outpatients as the sexual encounters continued.

He was exposed by an NHS investigation after two of his patients made complaints in February 2002.

Britten has not attended the inquiry, which is being held in his absence.

The hearing continues.