David Frederick Miller, 63, tutted loudly as Judge Pamela Jenkins sentenced him in Bendigo County Court to a total of three years' imprisonment, 30 months of which she suspended for two-and-a-half years.

Supporting himself with a walking stick, the pensioner appeared visibly shaken as a policeman led him away.

Miller pleaded guilty on Thursday to indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 1977, a woman aged 18 or 19 in 1979 and a 16-year-old girl in 1980 when he was working as a medical practitioner at the Arnold Street Medical Clinic.

Judge Jenkins said immediate imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence.

'‘As a medical practitioner, you were in a position of trust and authority, which you grossly abused,'' she said. Miller was sentenced in December, 1983, to 15 months' jail, which was suspended after he served eight months, for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old patient.

Despite Miller's guilty plea, Judge Jenkins said the former army reserves medical officer lacked remorse and had denied his victims' allegations during his police interview.

The judge also said the women had to go through the trauma of giving evidence at Miller's committal hearings. ‘‘The victim impact statements tendered on behalf of each of your victims each demonstrated the profound adverse effect that your offending had on each of them,'' Judge Jenkins said.

The judge told Miller the cases of two of the women were aggravated by the fact that Miller knew they had already been sexually abused when he indecently assaulted them.

Miller not only abused his position by taking advantage of the vulnerable patients, he compounded the abuse, Judge Jenkins said.

She said victim impact statements tendered to the court showed they had experienced relationship difficulties, a lack of self-esteem and trust in others and had had to have counselling for long periods.

The judge noted one of the women was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Judge Jenkins said the difficulty the women had in trusting doctors and attending medical clinics because of Miller's offending could have serious ramifications. She placed the father-of-five on the sex offenders register.

Judge Jenkins recommended assessment for Miller to get treatment on sexual offender programs, particularly in regards to minors.

The judge also made an order for police to take a swab sample from Miller, who was living in a housing commission house in South Coogee, Sydney, until yesterday. Judge Jenkins reiterated the point she made on Thursday that had Miller committed the offences after changes to the legislation, he would have been charged with more serious offences.