Paedophile doctor told he may never be let out of jail

Published on Monday 27 September 2010 17:30

A DOCTOR who tried to lure two schoolgirls into his car with the "ultimate aim" of having sex with them has been given a life sentence.

Leslie Mitchell was branded a danger to children and ordered to serve at least four years before he could be considered for parole, but a judge warned that he might never be freed.

Mitchell, a casualty doctor at Stirling Royal Infirmary, resigned from his post after his arrest in January was reported by police to NHS Forth Valley.

A spokeswoman said an internal review had been conducted and "no concerns or complaints have been raised by either patients or staff during the period he worked with us".

The mother of one of the girls said she was disappointed with yesterday's sentencing. "He will do it again if he gets out. It is sending out the wrong message that people can do this and only get four years. He is intelligent enough to say what it takes to get out. I'm just glad she never went into the car," she said.

Mitchell, 57, admitted a charge of breach of the peace in Carronshore, Falkirk, on 13 January by engaging the two girls, aged 11 and ten, in conversation and attempting to entice them into a car.

He appeared initially at Falkirk Sheriff Court, which heard that on an earlier occasion Mitchell had given the girls 50p when he saw them searching for money they had dropped on the ground.

On the next occasion, the girls were walking home from school and Mitchell approached and mentioned the 50p, and asked about their Christmas presents. He said the girls were beautiful and attractive, and asked to tickle their legs. The girls were scared and neither replied.

Mitchell, of Heritage Drive, Carron, Falkirk, said he was cold and offered to give them a lift home in his car, although they were not to tell their parents. He said the car was parked further up the street, and pointed to a vehicle. He then told them he would meet them the next day at the same place, but they said: "No." He left, and the girls went home and reported what had happened.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell called for a background report on Mitchell, and it stated that he had admitted his intention had been to entice the girls into his car so he could take them away and sexually abuse them.

Mitchell also admitted a long-term sexual interest in young girls and, although he had no convictions, disclosed previous offending involving girls while living in England.

He said he had accessed images of child sex abuse on the internet, and used chatrooms to contact children with a view to grooming them.

Sheriff Caldwell believed Mitchell posed a "very significant risk" to the public and sent the case to the High Court for sentencing.Lord Hardie said Mitchell had disclosed during the preparation of background reports that he had the "ultimate aim of penetrative sex with young girls".

He told Mitchell: "It is appropriate to make an order for lifelong restriction.

"You may never be released from prison. That will depend on the authorities who assess the risk you pose as time goes by."