DANIEL SPENCE FROM TYLORSTOWN STRIKED OFF AFTER HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AT PRINCESS OF WALES HOSPITAL

A nurse employed at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend has been permanently removed from the professional register following shocking revelations of his involvement in sharing and possessing extremely disturbing images of children and animals. Daniel Spence, a 39-year-old resident of Tylorstown in Rhondda Cynon Taf, was found to have committed grave violations of professional and moral standards through his actions involving child abuse imagery.

Spence, who qualified as a registered nurse in 2017, was assigned to an adult surgery ward at the Bridgend hospital. His employment was facilitated through the Next Step Nursing agency. The serious allegations against him came to light in July 2023 when police investigations uncovered that he had been actively sharing indecent material online. This discovery prompted his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.

In March of the previous year, Spence pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of illegal images. Specifically, he admitted to distributing 74 videos and images classified as Category A, the most severe category indicating the highest level of harm and abuse. Additionally, he confessed to possessing 125 images and videos also categorized as Category A. His criminal record further includes the possession of 21 extreme images and videos depicting acts of bestiality, specifically involving a person performing sexual acts with a dog. Among the most disturbing content were images showing very young children in distress and pain, including horrific abuse inflicted upon a small baby.

Following his guilty plea, Spence was sentenced in April to a range of penalties. His sentence included a two-year suspended imprisonment, meaning he would serve time only if he committed further offenses. He was also ordered to complete 35 days of rehabilitation, perform 150 hours of unpaid community service, and was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order that restricts any contact with children. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

The repercussions of his criminal conduct extended into his professional life. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) conducted a disciplinary hearing and decided to strike him off the nursing register. The panel cited his serious criminal behavior as a gross violation of the standards expected from healthcare professionals, especially considering his potential contact with vulnerable children through his work at the hospital. The NMC panel noted that Spence had not demonstrated insight into his actions nor taken steps toward remediation. Although he expressed remorse and shame, the panel concluded that he continued to pose a significant ongoing risk to children. As a result, the decision was made to remove him from the professional register to protect the public and uphold the integrity of the nursing profession.