UK psychologist admits allegations of drunkenness, touching himself inappropriately, trying to kiss colleague

March 16, 2010

Malcolm Cross allegedly tried to kiss Dr Owen Hughes before flirting with waiters.

Fellow diners tried to stop Mr Cross's wandering hands but he was too drunk to notice, the Health Professions Council heard.

Throughout the evening Mr Cross, a former panel member for the HPC, "slurred his words" and "was unsteady on his feet", it was claimed.

He turned up 15 minutes late at his own meeting to discuss paperwork prior to an accreditation visit by the British Psychological Society (BPS) at the University of the West of England [UWE].

When the meeting came to an end the party of five then moved to The Glass Boat restaurant, in Bristol city centre.

Dr Hughes, a consultant counselling psychologist, said his former tutor flirted with the waiters and turned on Molly Rose, from the British Psychological Society, at the dinner on June 8 last year.

"He was insinuating that she was a spoil sport as she was in charge of the budget that night," Dr Hughes said. "Molly set herself as far apart from Malcolm as possible and spent the time texting on the phone.

"Malcolm seemed to take exception to that. He also said she didnt need to worry and he would pay for the wine. His tone of voice was she was being a spoil sport.

"He became more and more sexually inappropriate. He became more tactile around those with him. Firstly with Steven Perritt and then towards me as well. It made me feel very uncomfortable."

The HPC heard that first Mr Cross tried to kiss Dr Hughes, but this was rebuffed with a hand. Sophie Kemp, for the HPC, said Mr Cross then told him he loved him.

"He asked repeatedly if he could kiss him," she said. "He leant over the table attempting to kiss him."

Ms Kemp said that throughout the meal Cross slurred his words and was repeatedly asked to stop his lewd behaviour.

Mr Cross, who trained in Australia, is attending the hearing and admits all the allegations - that he was drunk, rude, condescending and aggressive on June 8, 2009, and that he touched himself inappropriately and attempted to touch Dr Hughes and Mr Perritt.

He is further accused of making a lewd suggestion to Dr Hughes.

Mr Cross, Dean of Students in the Department of Psychology at City University, London, admits misconduct but denies his fitness to practise was impaired.

He became Chair Elect of the Division of Counselling Psychology in 2006 and took up the role of Chair of the Division in 2007.

The hearing continues.

Source: "Psychologist 'tried to kiss male colleague in front of wife,'" The Telegraph, March 16, 2010