A doctor accused of sexually assaulting patients during hypnotherapy sessions told police the women might have been hallucinating.

Imad Al-Khawaja, 48, has denied indecently assaulting two patients during therapy sessions at Brighton General Hospital in June last year.

The doctor, who is employed by South Downs Health NHS Trust as a consultant in rehabilitation and who lives in Valley Drive, Brighton, told officers he denied any indecent behaviour.

On the fifth day of a trial at Hove Crown Court, statements given to police following his arrest were read to the jury.

The doctor stated: "I am mindful of the hypnotic phenomenon which can result in hallucinations.

"I deny emphatically the allegations suggesting wrongdoing and inappropriate conduct by me."

The court had heard from a 20-year-old alleged victim who told how she felt shocked and violated after the doctor sexually assaulted her during a session at his clinic.

The woman, who was suffering from neck pain, said she was not fully in a trance and was aware of what was happening. She alleged he told her to lose her inhibitions and touch every part of her body. She claimed he told her to imagine the most powerful orgasm she could have.

The doctor said her allegations were untrue. She could have been distressed by an interruption by a cleaner during the session. He denied touching her body, instructing her to give him a hug and a kiss or talking to her about orgasms.

The doctor, a consultant physician whose work has been based at the Sussex Rehabilitation Centre, is also accused of indecently assaulting a 47-year-old woman suffering from multiple sclerosis.

She alleged he asked her intimate questions about her sexual desire, fondled her breasts and told her she would have an orgasm, which she did.

The patient told police she was not fully hypnotised and could remember what happened during the session. The woman, who committed suicide in December due to her quality of life, said the doctor had made her feel "like a slut".

The doctor denied any sexually inappropriate behaviour towards the woman.

Al-Khawaja denies two charges of indecent assault.

The trial continues.