GCXZ

However, he has not been seen at his surgery in Iver, Buckinghamshire since his arrest. The GMC's investigation will determine whether he should face a "fitness to practise" hearing, where he could be struck off.

Abeywardena was arrested after security staff noticed him "acting suspiciously" inside the Boots store at the shopping centre last August.

Speaking after his high-profile hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Dr Buddhi Abeywardena claimed that he was unaware that his actions and behaviour were an offence as he felt he was not hurting anyone.

"What this defendant was doing was committing a very serious criminal offence and this was not a victimless crime.

"Young females were being stalked by this man and then filmed without their knowledge or approval."

A spokesman for the Iver Heath Health Centre, where the doctor worked, has since confirmed that he has not practised since his arrest.

He told the Birmingham Mail: "We are aware of the conviction and community order given to Dr Abeywardena at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

"Dr Abeywardena has not practised as a GP since he was arrested. His offence does not relate to patients and did not occur at Iver Heath Health Centre. The practice has plans in place to ensure the continuation of medical services for our patients."

A spokesman for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said a fitness to practice hearing is likely to be set within the next few months.

Last year Davinderjit Bains, a GP from Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, was jailed for twelve years after using a secret camera hidden in his wristwatch to record himself abusing patients.

Detectives branded him a "sexual predator" after he admitted carrying our more than two dozen sex attacks.