Inquests open into deaths of three women treated by breast surgeon Ian Paterson

Seven inquests have now been opened into the deaths of women treated by rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson - who was jailed in 2017 for wounding patients.

Inquests were opened today into the deaths of jewellery-maker Judith Bruce, who was 47, kitchen assistant Christine Gould, 56, and housewife Lindsey Phipps, who was 57.

They were all living in Solihull.

Area coroner Emma Brown said that she had reason to believe their deaths,

• Christine Gould was born in Smethwick, West Midlands, and died at a care home in Edgbaston on May 24 2003.

• Judith Bruce, born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, but who lived in Chelmsley Wood,Solihull, died at Good Hope Hospital on August 6 2005.

• Lindsey Phipps died at Solihull Hospital on October 30 2017.

Four inquests linked to the Birmingham and Solihull coroner's preliminary investigations into patients of Paterson were opened and adjourned earlier this month.

Paterson carried out unnecessary operations in NHS and private hospitals, exaggerating or inventing cancer risks and claiming payments for more expensive procedures.

He was jailed in 2017 after being found guilty of 17 counts of wounding patients with intent, against 10 victims.

He was handed a 15-year prison term, but Court of Appeal judges later increasedthat to 20 years.

• ITV News Central tried to get answers about what he'd done before he was jailed:

• An independent inquiry into how rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson was able to go on performing unnecessary operations for years uncovered a healthcare system "dysfunctional at almost every level".

• Patients of Paterson left scared of doctors and calling for health care system change

Coroner Emma Brown said it's expected that further inquests would be opened.

Read more:

• What did we learn from the Paterson Inquiry?

• Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson struck off for deliberately wounding patients