Hundreds seek compensation after breast surgeon found guilty of performing 'completely unnecessary' operations
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Ben Chapman
Hundreds of private patients of a breast surgeon found guilty of carrying out "completely unnecessary" operations are seeking compensation, solicitors have said.
Ian Paterson was convicted by jury at on 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding but was granted conditional bail ahead of being sentenced "in due course."
The 59-year-old was described by one victim as being "like God" who lied to patients and exaggerated or invented the risk of cancer to patients to convince them to be operated on.
Thompsons Solicitors said around 350 patients who underwent treatmentat clinics owned by Spire Healthcare in the West Midlands are taking civil action against him and the firm.
The firm also said the "devastation" wreaked by Mr Paterson was compounded by the company's "shabby" treatment of those who complained.
"We are determined to secure appropriate compensation for every single one of our clients."
Paterson's seven-week trial heard harrowing evidence from 10 patients treated in the private sector between 1997 and 2011.
One victim told jurors: "That person has ruined my life".
Another who suffered at his hands was Leanne Joseph, who agreed to have two "unnecessary operations" leaving her unable to breastfeed and was told it was "a small price to pay for her life".
He was suspended by the General Medical Council in 2012 after concerns were raised over unnecessary or incomplete operations, leading to the recall of 700 patients.
The Scottish-born surgeon had maintained that all the operations were necessary but the jury of six men and five women agreed that Paterson carried out "extensive, life-changing operations for no medically justifiable reason".
His motives were described as "obscure", which may have been driven by a desire to "earn extra money", the court was told.
A freedom of information request has found the NHS has paid out £18 million - of which £9.5 million was damages - following claims made by nearly 800 former patients of Ian Paterson.
In addition, 68 women underwent so-called cleavage-sparing mastectomies (CSMs) - in which part of the breast was left for cosmetic reasons - by Paterson on the NHS had gone on to develop a recurrence of breast cancer.