A woman fought back tears today as she told how a Sussex doctor gave her a French kiss while counselling her for sexual abuse she suffered as a child.

The 34-year-old, known only as Miss A, had expected a peck on the cheek from Dr Wesley Scott-Smith when he visited her flat in July 1998 - but instead he stuck his tongue into her mouth, the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee heard.

Dr Scott-Smith, from Wayfield Avenue, Hove, admitted acting like a "fool" in having kissed Miss A but denies a charge of serious professional misconduct.

The hearing was told that during a during a number of sessions with the GP in 1996, Miss A spoke "freely and frankly" about the abuse she suffered as a child and how this had affected her current relationship.

"After a few meetings I felt more positive and that I didn't need to make another appointment," she told the committee.

But in 1998 she returned, in an agitated state, to see Dr Scott-Smith following an abnormal smear test result, and agreed that he should visit her at home for another counselling session.

Miss A said: "He said that at the end of the final session I had wanted to kiss him and he had felt the same. He later asked if he could now have that kiss."

She added: "I was surprised because I thought that it would be a peck on the cheek but he came towards me and it was a kiss on the mouth.

"He said, 'There's a lot going on inside you,' and said that this would be our secret.

"He telephoned me a little while later and said that he was feeling guilty."

But Dr Scott-Smith told the hearing that both he and Miss A had consented to the kiss.

He said: "We had a three or four-second French kiss that was totally mutual."

The GP, who has been married for 18 years and who has two children, said he knew he had behaved like an "idiot".

Dr Scott-Smith was later charged with indecent assault but was acquitted after a two-day trial at Lewes Crown Court in 1999.

The hearing continues.