CHARLES BARTLETT FROM LLANELLI INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE AT CARDIFF CROWN COURT

In November 2003, a disturbing case involving a senior medical professional from Llanelli came to light at Cardiff Crown Court. Charles Bartlett, a 49-year-old consultant radiologist residing in Ferryside, Llanelli, faced serious allegations after it was revealed that he had downloaded and possessed over 1,600 indecent images of children. The court heard that Bartlett had admitted to 17 charges related to the creation and possession of these illicit photographs, which are considered a grave violation of moral and legal standards.

During the proceedings, it was disclosed that Bartlett’s actions were influenced by a combination of depression and a mental health condition. A depressive illness was identified as a factor that disinhibited his otherwise restrained interest in pornography. The court was informed that Bartlett had been suffering from anxiety, depression, anorexia, and insomnia, as documented in a GP’s report from April 2002. These health issues appeared to have played a significant role in his behavior during the period when the offenses occurred.

Despite the severity of the charges, Bartlett was spared a custodial sentence. Instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order, which mandates ongoing treatment for sex offenders. Additionally, he was prohibited from working with children, placed on the sex offender register for five years, and restricted from using computers without prior approval from probation officers. The court also ordered him to pay £800 in prosecution costs, along with an unspecified amount for legal defense.

Judge Mr. Justice Christopher Pitchford emphasized that the loss of Bartlett’s professional reputation and employment would serve as a lasting punishment. He clarified that Bartlett was not considered a danger to the public, and that his distorted thinking, which contributed to his offending, would be addressed through his sentence. The judge remarked, “You were suffering from an illness throughout the time these offences were committed. The illness disinhibited your interest in pornography and its cause was primarily the burden you undertook in your working life.”

Further details revealed that authorities uncovered the extent of Bartlett’s illicit activities during a worldwide investigation known as Operation Ore, which targeted paedophiles. When arrested in June, officers found that Bartlett had stored more than 1,600 indecent images at his home. The court was also informed that Bartlett had maintained a professional career spanning 16 years with the Carmarthenshire NHS Trust, during which ten of his senior colleagues provided testimonials praising the quality of his work. Importantly, the court noted that his secret interest in child pornography had not affected his conduct with patients, including children.

In a letter read during the proceedings, Bartlett expressed remorse, stating, “I wish to apologise to all my patients, and the parents of any younger patients, and assure them that the part of my life that brought me to this was always completely separate.” The judge concluded that while Bartlett’s actions were deeply reprehensible, his mental health issues and the context of his illness were relevant factors in the case, and the sentence aimed to address these underlying problems while protecting the community.