A stewardess trembled with fear as her GP kissed and cuddled her at his surgery after discussing his sex life, the GMC heard.

The 25-year-old woman said Dr Jonathan Royds-Jones called her by a pet name before grabbing her in a clinch and giving her a peck on the cheek.

She claimed she was so stunned that she fled from the practice and broke down in tears as she got into her car.

The GMC later ruled the doctor's conduct towards the patient was improper but did not amount to serious professional misconduct.

The woman, an airline cabin crew stewardess for four years, said Dr Royds-Jones grabbed her at an appointment to change her contraception in Crawley in September 1998.

She told the GMC yesterday: "I was a little bit nervous anyway because it is a sensitive subject. My sex life is not something I like to talk to about."

Dr Royds-Jones is a GP who treats 23 per cent of Crawley's population.

He is the company medical officer for a number of firms, including battery giant Duracell, and is appointed by the Home Office as a medical referee to the Surrey and Sussex Crematorium.

The doctor, who is married with three children, has worked at the Bridge Medical Centre in Three Bridges near Crawley for 23 years.

The woman, from Crawley, said Dr Royds-Jones prescribed her a different pill and then examined her throat because she complained it was sore.

She claimed they were sat so close during the consultation their knees were virtually touching and as she got up to leave he made his move.

The woman told the committee: "He leaned forward and put his hand on my knee and then he just kissed me on the cheek. I was completely taken aback. I could not believe he had done it.

"I was very stunned. I got up and as I was leaving he put his arms around my shoulder and started hugging me.

"He pulled me close to him and very tight. I just wanted to get out of the surgery. I needed to go. I can't explain the feeling.

"As soon as I left the surgery into the car park tears started to well in my eyes and I started to shake. I found it difficult to unlock my car door and when I eventually got into it I just burst into tears. I was very upset."

Dr Royds-Jones admitted he did kiss and cuddle the woman but claimed he was just a "friendly doctor" who had done it with other females with no complaints.

He claimed it happened after the woman told him she could not afford to pay for a prescription and he just wanted to reassure her.

Dr Royds-Jones, of Lashmere, Copthorne, Crawley, denied his behaviour on September 17, 1998, was improper and amounted to serious professional misconduct.

Giving evidence, he said: "I am very, very sorry that this has occurred. I tried to reassure the patient but in fact I did the opposite, which I regret.I thought she looked unhappy and worried and I wanted to reassure her that life was OK and she was OK."

He claimed he kissed her on impulse and said it was a reflex action because she looked worried.

Committee chairman Professor Peter Richards said the doctor's behaviour was unacceptable but acknowledged it did not involve any groping or sexual motives.