ANDREW BLOCKLEY SHOCKS AVON WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

A former mental health nurse from Avon has been permanently disqualified from practicing after authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of over 13,000 indecent images of children stored on his personal laptop. Andrew Blockley, who had a brief stint working for the Avon & Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health Trust, was found guilty of possessing and viewing child pornography, facing 11 separate charges related to these illicit materials.

Police conducted a search of his residence in 2013, during which they seized his electronic devices. An examination of these devices revealed a vast array of illegal images created between 2011 and 2013, highlighting a prolonged period of offending. The severity of the case was underscored by the nature and volume of the material discovered.

Following his conviction at Bristol Crown Court, Andrew Blockley was subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The hearing resulted in a 19-month suspension order, effectively barring him from practicing as a nurse. The disciplinary panel expressed serious concerns about his conduct, emphasizing the potential risk to vulnerable individuals and questioning his fitness to continue in the healthcare profession.

The case has sent shockwaves through the local community in Avon, raising questions about safeguarding and the vetting processes within healthcare institutions. Authorities continue to stress the importance of vigilance and thorough background checks to prevent individuals with such disturbing histories from working with vulnerable populations.