A BRAVE young woman who endured nightmares and depression after she was touched inappropriately by a pharmacist has spoken about her ordeal.

Pharmacist Roshan Lal, 56, was sentenced to a three-year community order at Southend Crown Court, after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women at Pharma Health Care, on Canvey, between 2005 and 2009.

After the case, one of his victims, who has asked to remain anonymous, told of the months of torment she suffered after being groped.

The incident happened in October 2009, when Lal put his hands inside her bra for more than ten seconds under the pretence of checking her blood pressure.

The woman, aged 20, said she felt powerless to stop him.

She said: “I knew it was wrong, but I trusted him. I was thinking this isn’t right, but I was sort of in shock and felt like I couldn’t do anything.”

She reported the incident to the pharmacy manager and then the police, but said she wrestled with feelings of guilt and depression for many months afterwards.

Although Lal was sacked from the pharmacy, the woman said it was difficult for her to move on from the incident.

She said: “I had quite a few nightmares at the time and I was basically feeling depressed.

“I didn’t want to go out, I didn’t want to be left alone with men. I couldn’t trust people because I thought they were being nice to me for a reason.”

She eventually sought counselling, which helped her regain her confidence and is feeling more upbeat about life.

Lal, of Furtherwick Road, Canvey, was sentenced to a three-year supervised community order and was ordered to take part in a sex offenders programme, while he has also been placed on the sex offenders register.

Despite having to go through the ordeal again in court, the woman said she would urge other people to report similar incidents to the police.

She said: “I think you should always tell the truth. If he had done it to someone else I’d have felt so guilty.

“I just hope he can’t work as a pharmacist again. I don’t think it’s safe for him to work with women.”