MIDWIFE CAUGHT WITH 400 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN AVOIDS PRISON AFTER PARTNER'S APPEAL
Scott Butler, a male NHS midwife aged 39, who was employed at St George's Hospital in Tooting, was arrested and found to possess more than 400 indecent images of children as young as four on his personal devices.He also had extreme pornography depicting acts such as rape, strangulation, and sexual acts with animals.
The police conducted a raid on Butler's flat in Lambeth, where they discovered 366 indecent videos and 77 photos across multiple devices including his phone, a hard drive, and a laptop.
Butler pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.
He was sentenced by Judge Michael Wood QC at Inner London Crown Court to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
The judge took into account a reference letter from Butler’s partner, which was pivotal in avoiding immediate jail time.
The court heard that some images were Category A, the most serious classification.
Butler, who studied nursing at Coventry University in 2004, was caught initially after uploading images to a social networking site, which police traced back to him while he was working.
After his arrest, he was suspended from his role immediately, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council was notified.
The NSPCC issued a statement condemning his actions and emphasizing the heinous nature of the images, which involved children suffering and being coerced into abusive acts, often with real and vulnerable individuals.
The Court highlighted the tragic impact on victims and the community, noting Butler will never work as a midwife again, which is especially tragic given the existing shortage of midwives.
The court also ordered the destruction of his devices and prohibited him from any unsupervised contact with children.
The prosecution presented evidence including forensic analysis of his devices, showing the extent of his interest in preadolescent children.
His conduct crossed the custody threshold, but the judge acknowledged his guilty plea, remorse, and the supportive letter from his partner.
Representatives from the NHS Trust and the Nursing and Midwifery Council expressed their revocation of his licenses and ongoing investigations, underscoring the severity of the case.
The NSPCC and other authorities stressed the importance of online safety legislation and strengthening online regulations to protect children from exploitation and abuse.
