Cancer doc who blamed Covid for his sick images of kids handed suspended sentence

A distinguished cancer specialist who downloaded hundreds of images of underage girls - including one aged just four - has been handed a suspended prison sentence and is also facing professional disciplinary proceedings. Consultant urologist Paul Sturch, 41, who treats prostate cancer, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 9 and October 17, 2023.

During the hearing, at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, he blamed the exhaustion of working during the pandemic. The charges reflect 831 Category A - the most serious - moving and still images; Category B images and 6776 Category C. Judge Anne Brown sentenced him to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, which includes 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Police raided Sturch's Thameside apartment in Hitch Quay, Wandsworth after he was identified chatting online with an undercover officer concerning his interest in girls aged four and up.

Sturch, who studied at the Royal College of Surgeons, has not returned to work at King's College Hospital, Camberwell and describes himself as: "Appalled, crushed and overwhelmed by remorse and shame".

The court heard his mental health deteriorated while working on the medical front line of the Covid pandemic.

Simon Ray KC, defending, said: "The General Medical Council (GMC) are aware and a custodial sentence would almost certainly end his career, but not if you follow the recommendation of the pre-sentence report of a community sentence."

Earlier, prosecutor Jonathan Gold told the court: "His address was searched and he was seen attempting to tamper with or destroy a memory stick on which images were found along with a white iPhone.

"There are some aggravating features, the ages of some of the children are quite young, some are as young as four years old."

Mr Ray reminded the court Sturch's offending was purely online and did not involve physical contact with children and he still has ambitions to return to the medical profession.

He said: "There is nothing professionally that brings him into contact with children. His speciality is very much adult men.

"He was working to exhaustion to save lives during the Covid 19 pandemic and he has dedicated his life to the care of others.

"This frontline work on the Covid ward contributed to his mental disintegration that led to the commission of these offences.

"He takes full responsibility for his actions and offending, although he recalls little of his offending actions.

"He is a consultant urological surgeon with a speciality in prostate cancer, undertaking life-saving procedures. He has skills that are rare.

"If ever there was a case where the court can be sure offences will not be repeated it is this one.

Mr Ray added: "The effect on the defendant losing his career and everything he has worked for would be devastating. Work is his identity and it is something he has worked on all of his life.

"If the defendant is struck off it would be a personal tragedy and the NHS would lose a talented surgeon.

Mr Ray added: "By the time the police came to his flat he was no longer going to work. The police bodyworn camera presents a powerful of where he was at the time in his life. his state and the state of his flat."

The defence submitted medical reports revealed Sturch had a depressive disorder that led to "poor judgement and impulsivity."

Mr Ray said: "People can function when they really, really have to, but behind the scenes they are collapsing."

Sturch will also be under Probation Service supervision for 18 months, must sign the sex offenders register for seven years and was made subject to a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his internet use, plus further conditions.

Judge Brown said: "There were children under obvious distress and I will not go into details in open court. We must take the age and vulnerability of the children into account.

"It is not for me to second-guess the GMC. I have to decide if there is an alternative to a custodial sentence.

"I do not think it is helpful to guess what the GMC will do in the future. I don't know their work."