A cancer specialist who was caught downloading hundreds of explicit images of underage girls blamed his actions on exhaustion from working on the Covid frontline.
Consultant urologist Paul Sturch, 41, was identified by police after chatting online with an undercover officer about his interest in girls as young as four.
Police raided the prostate cancer doctor’s Thameside apartment in Hitch Quay, Wandsworth.
During the sting, Mr Sturch tried to tamper with a memory stick where the explicit images were found.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 9 and October 17, 2023.
At his hearing at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, it was argued that his work on the Covid frontline caused his mental health to deteriorate.
‘He was working to exhaustion to save lives during the Covid 19 pandemic and he has dedicated his life to the care of others,’ his KC Simon Ray said.
‘This frontline work on the Covid ward contributed to his mental disintegration that led to the commission of these offences.
Consultant urologist Paul Sturch, 41, (pictured) was identified by police after chatting online with an undercover officer about his interest in girls as young as four
Mr Sturch (pictured) pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 9 and October 17, 2023
‘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 Sturch, who studied at the Royal College of Surgeon, has not returned to work at King’s College Hospital, Camberwell and describes himself as: ‘Appalled, crushed and overwhelmed by remorse and shame.’
The defence submitted medical reports that revealed Mr Sturch had a depressive disorder that led to ‘poor judgement and impulsivity.’
Prosecutor Jonathan Gold said: ‘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.’
The doctor received a suspended prison sentence on Thursday and will also face professional disciplinary proceedings.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, which includes thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.
He will also be under Probation Service supervision for eighteen 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.
‘There were children under obvious distress and I will not go into details in open court,’ Judge Brown said. ‘We must take the age and vulnerability of the children into account.
