He was a top GP trusted by thousands of patients... the whole time he was hiding a vile secret
13.04.2024 - 07:23
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
One of the country's most senior GPs has been struck off after being convicted of downloading hundreds of child abuse images. Dr Robert Varnam claimed he amassed the vile collection after 'neglecting his self-care' while working 75 hour weeks and 'rarely taking a break'.
The 52-year-old was detained by police in 2020 after being caught with 241 indecent images, some showing children as young as six-years-old. Varnam, who at the time was practising as a GP at the Robert Darbishire Practice in Rusholme and was also Director of General Practice Development for NHS England, denied he had a sexual interest in children and said he no recollection of downloading the images.
At Manchester Crown Court in July 2023 he was sentenced to a two year community order, a rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours of community service after admitting three counts of making indecent photographs. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register and abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.
READ MORE: The criminals shamed in Greater Manchester this week
Passing sentence, the judge told Varnam he had taken part in an 'evil trade in some ways worse than drug dealing'.
The judge said: "This sort of offending offends the principles of every rightminded thinking individual. The taking of such images, posting of such images, I accept you did not do either of those things; you just looked at them.
"But it is an evil trade, in some ways worse than drug dealing. It causes untold misery for the victims and it is done simply to line the pockets of such people who trade in such matters, or to trade with other people who have a similarly perverted mindset.
"For that reason, the courts take this sort of offending
The website celebfans.org is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can
send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.