Newport Magistrates' Court (Image: Shibin Shaji)
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A retired doctor from Monmouthshire who admitted possessing indecent images of children is facing the prospect of being removed from the medical register.
The conviction
Dr Mark Westbrook, 59, of Gwent Road, Llantilio Pertholey, pleaded guilty to making eight category A indecent images and videos – the most serious classification – along with two category B and two category C images.
He was spared jail at Newport Magistrates’ Court last December, receiving an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years. The court also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and required him to sign the sex offender register for a decade. He was additionally ordered to complete up to 10 days of rehabilitation activity.
How the images were discovered
Cathie Seville, chairing the medical tribunal, outlined how the images were uncovered during a raid on the retired GP’s home last year. Officers found them on a phone belonging to Dr Westbrook. When interviewed by police, he confirmed the device was his but declined to answer any further questions.
The tribunal
Dr Westbrook, who had no previous convictions, has not appeared before the medical practitioners tribunal. The panel has confirmed that his conviction is proved and will now move to consider whether he should be struck from the medical register.
