A doctor forged prescriptions for Viagra because he was too embarrassed to ask his own GP, a hearing was told this week.

Dr Mansoor Kassim, 37, stole the prescriptions while working in trauma and orthopaedics at a hospital in Wales , the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service heard.

The registrar was employed by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in February with his employers fully aware of his convictions before offering him the post.

His consultant supervisor, Nick Nicolaou, told the hearing Kassim had done everything asked of him and there had been no concerns about his actions or dishonesty.

Kassim admitted four charges of making a false prescription, two of theft by an employee and one of fraud at Newport Magistrates’ Court.

The medic, from Ilford, Essex, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, ordered to pay compensation of £347 for the Viagra and £2,561 for the NHS investigation.

He could be facing the end of his career at a hearing in Manchester where he denies his fitness to practise is impaired because of his convictions.

Dr Kassim, who is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “I have put my career at stake, lost my family. I have learned my lesson and I don’t think I will do anything wrong at all.”

The hearing continues.