Hospital psychiatrist arrested over 'rape' of woman

A leading psychiatrist and sportsman has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman at the hospital where he works.

Dr Jan Falkowski, who is also a successful figure in the powerboat racing world, carried on working for six months without his employers being aware of the rape allegation.

The 43-year-old psychiatrist was put on special leave in August immediately the East London and City Mental Health Trust was told of the alleged offence. The rape is claimed to have taken place in a room at the St Clement's Hospital in Bow and dates back to 2002.

The consultant was the medical director of the trust for three years until he stood down in March last year. He continues to be a clinical director at the hospital.

The trust confirmed that Dr Falkowski had first been arrested in February but remained at work treating patients until it was informed in August. He is due to answer police bail and report to a police station in east London today when he may be formally charged with rape.

In August he was part of a team that won the Powerboat P1 Championship in Sicily and then in October he and a teammate set a new world speed record in their class on Windermere.

In 2001 he broke the record for circumnavigating Britain in a powerboat and he has made two successful speedboat crossings of the Atlantic.

Dr Falkowski's trust has come under strong attack for the high number of suicides and killings in its area and has been fiercely criticised by the family of a man who was pushed under a train by a drug addict being treated by doctors at St Clement's.

The trust was also criticised after a patient of Dr Falkowski's, David Watkins, stabbed a vicar to death in his vicarage in Fulham in 2002. Watkins's family had pleaded with the authorities to keep him in hospital but he was discharged into the community.

East London and City Mental Health Trust confirmed that a psychiatrist had been arrested.

A spokeswoman said the decision was taken immediately the trust became aware of the investigation, pointing out the police had not informed the trust when the original complaint was made.

As a result Dr Falkowski had been able to continue to work after being arrested.

The issue was also being considered by the General Medical Council.