A RECEPTIONIST told a hearing how a Huddersfield GP accused of malpractice received a phone call threatening to break his legs.

Diane Thorpe, former senior receptionist for Dr Dev Dutt, told a medical panel yesterday that the anonymous caller threatened violence unless Dr Dutt left his ex-wife Catherine Dutt alone.

Dr Dutt, 66, denies malpractice on 11 patients between 1985 and 2005 at a General Medical Council fitness to practise panel in Manchester.

Dr Dutt split from his wife in 1991 before an acrimonious divorce. He pursued a number of unsuccessful court cases against his ex-wife’s friends, Julie and David Ruddiman, from Fixby.

Dr Dutt also denies allegations of failing to keep adequate notes, betraying patient confidentiality and other forms of misconduct.

Ms Thorpe, who had worked at Fartown Health Centre on Spaines Road since August, 2000, added that Dr Dutt’s consulting room was very messy and full of divorce notes and private mail.

In a statement read to the panel Ms Thorpe said boxes of files on the floor made it hard to get to Dr Dutt’s desk.

But she added that the surgery usually ran smoothly.

The panel heard from Ronald Pollock, an estates director for Huddersfield Central and South Huddersfield Primary Care Trusts.

He removed 21 boxes of notes from Dr Dutt’s room after the GP was barred from his one-man practice by the Central PCT in February, 2005.

Mr Pollock said he found significant amounts of loose papers and files covering most of the floor.

He added that he saw an 18in pile of papers on the desk and papers behind the desk.

But Mr Pollock said he wasn’t certain the papers were patient records.

Dr Eve Scott, former assistant director of risk management for the trusts, inspected the boxes at St Luke’s House, Crosland Moor.

She told the panel she had found 259 documents concerning 222 patients, including 52 test results for 19 patients.

The GMC suspended Dr Dutt’s right to practise in October, 2005.

The case continues.