A REVIEW has taken place in Taunton Crown Court of the case against a West Somerset dentist accused of a sexual assault on a teenage girl.

Ajith George Behanan, aged 50, was charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 that he ‘intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when she did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that she was consenting’.

He was excused attending the crown court hearing, which took place before Judge Edward Burgess KC, and both his defence barrister and the prosecutor were present via video links.

Judge Burgess listed a trial date for June 10 next year and said a further review hearing would take place on September 27.

He agreed to amend reporting restrictions on the case which prevent identification of the alleged victim to include social media posts but excluding private hearings of the General Dental Council (GDC).

The offence was alleged to have happened on December 11, 2020.

Mr Behanan owns Holloway House Dental Surgery, in Minehead, but has been suspended from practising since August, 2022.

The GDC’s Dental Professionals Hearings Service earlier this summer extended the suspension and said it would not be reviewed again for six months unless there was a material change of circumstances.