The B.C. Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling that spared a chiropractor who sexually assaulted several patients from being placed on Canada's sex-offender registry.

Peter Titchener was convicted in 2008 of five counts of sexual assault for touching female patients during chiropractic treatment.

The judge in the case handed Titchener a 12-month conditional sentence followed by a year of probation, but granted him an exemption that would keep him off the sex-offender registry.

The sex-offender registry is mandatory for offenders convicted of sex crimes, but the Criminal Code includes an exemption if the effect of being placed on the registry would be "grossly disproportionate" compared with the need to protect society.

The trial judge concluded there was little public interest in requiring Titchener to constantly report to authorities since he posed a low risk to offend.

The Crown appealed, and in a unanimous decision the Appeal Court ordered Titchener to register as a sex offender.

The Appeal Court decision says there is no evidence to suggest Titchener would be affected by the sex-offender designation any more than other offenders.

"At the time of sentencing, the respondent continued to work as a chiropractor. He enjoyed continued patient support as evidenced by letters submitted to the court," wrote Justice Richard Low.

"There is nothing to suggest that the registration and reporting requirements in the act, as opposed to the stigma of convictions for the sexual offences themselves, would have any impact upon the respondent's professional, personal or family life. ... There is no basis for concluding that the order would have an impact on the respondent's privacy or liberty or any other aspect of his life that would be disproportionate to the public interest, much less grossly disproportionate."

The court noted Titchener has never admitted to the assaults or expressed any remorse.