Children’s doctor sexually abused cancer victims

A CHILDREN’S doctor has pleaded guilty to a string of sexual offences against cancer sufferers in his care, aged as young as eight.

Myles Bradbury was told he faces a substantial time in jail. Picture: SWNS

Dr Myles Bradbury pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault and 13 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing or inciting 
a child to engage in sexual activity.

The 41-year-old paediatric haematologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard he carried out examinations on young boys “purely for his own sexual gratification” and with no medical justification.

Bradbury also pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism and two counts of making indecent images of a child.

The offences involved 18 victims aged between eight and 17, prosecutor John Farmer said. They date back to 2009.

Bradbury was bailed and told he would have to sign the sex offenders’ register.

A sentencing date was not given but the judge said Bradbury could expect a “substantial” custodial sentence.

Police confirmed that more than 16,000 indecent images of children were found on a disc in Bradbury’s Suffolk home.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said that “there are likely to be more victims,” adding that a helpline had been set up for parents, patients or former patients.

Bradbury’s abuse came to light after a victim spoke to his parents about what had happened and the doctor was suspended by the NHS in November last year, before being arrested the following month.

He was charged with 11 offences in June but more counts were added to the indictment last month after further victims came forward following publicity.

Dr Keith McNeil, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said it “sickens” him to think the trust between Bradbury as a doctor and his patients had been breached.

“It is hard to put into words just how saddened we are that this situation has occurred, and our most abject and sincere apologies go out to any and all of our patients and their families who are affected by this,” he said.

“I am so deeply sorry these incidents have happened and I am also deeply saddened, as a doctor, that one of my own profession has placed himself and his patients in this position.
There is a very ancient and sacred trust that exists between a doctor and his patients and, quite frankly, it sickens me to think that trust has been breached.”

Ann-Marie Ingle, the trust’s chief nurse, said: “I cannot begin to express how sorry I and all of my colleagues are for the distress that Myles Bradbury’s abuse caused to patients and their families. His cold and calculating abuse of trust has deeply shocked us all, including staff who worked alongside him to care for these vulnerable and sick children.

“The actions of one individual should not taint the public’s trust in the NHS.”

Detective Sergeant Shane Fasey said Bradbury was interviewed three times but refused to say anything. He said: “Bradbury’s offences were an appalling breach of trust committed against vulnerable victims who had been placed in his care.”