STEPHEN MCFARLANE FROM JONES STRIPPED OF NURSING LICENSE OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN LOTHIANS

In August 2014, the professional career of Stephen McFarlane, a nurse based in Jones, was effectively ended following serious allegations of possessing and distributing child abuse images. McFarlane, who had been employed as a mental health nurse on an acute psychiatric ward within NHS Lothian, faced severe disciplinary action after a series of criminal convictions and police investigations.

It was revealed that police raided McFarlane’s residence in December 2011, uncovering a disturbing collection of 219 indecent images of children stored on his computer. Among these images, 22 were classified as level four, indicating a high degree of severity and seriousness. The discovery prompted immediate concern about his conduct and the potential risk posed to vulnerable individuals.

McFarlane subsequently appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in October of the previous year, where he pleaded guilty to charges related to the possession of child abuse images. His guilty plea led to his registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of three years and a sentence of three years’ probation. The court proceedings also highlighted that McFarlane’s actions were not isolated incidents, and they raised questions about his integrity and professionalism.

In addition to the child exploitation charges, McFarlane was involved in a separate incident in May 2013, where he was convicted of dangerous driving on the M8 motorway. During that incident, he was speeding and was pursued by police, further demonstrating reckless behavior and a disregard for public safety.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) conducted a disciplinary hearing to assess McFarlane’s fitness to practice. It was noted that he had served NHS Lothian for over 15 years, but his actions had severely compromised his standing and the trust placed in healthcare professionals. The panel reviewed a certified transcript of his sentencing hearing, which confirmed the charges and the seriousness of his misconduct.

In its ruling, the panel emphasized that McFarlane’s conduct was incompatible with the standards expected of a registered nurse. They stated, “Mr McFarlane did not treat these children with dignity and respect and failed in his duty to protect the wider community. The panel was of the view that these were not victimless crimes. Mr McFarlane failed to be open, honest and act with integrity and he did not uphold the reputation of the profession. He did not adhere to the laws of the country in which he was practising.”

Alasdair Kennedy, representing the NMC, described McFarlane’s actions as “deplorable,” adding that his dangerous driving also posed a risk to public safety. The panel noted that McFarlane demonstrated “very little insight” into his misconduct and that a “risk of repetition remains.”

Given the gravity of the offences, including sexual misconduct, the number and level of images, and the fact that some images had been distributed, the panel concluded that the only appropriate sanction was to strike McFarlane off the nursing register. This decision was made to protect the public and maintain confidence in the healthcare profession. The panel stated that public trust could only be preserved if individuals like McFarlane were removed from the register.

Although McFarlane was not present at the hearing, a case officer from the NMC indicated that he had fully expected to be struck off. An interim suspension order was issued for 18 months following the hearing, pending any potential appeal. If no appeal is filed, this suspension will be replaced by the full removal from the register, 28 days after McFarlane receives the written decision.

In response to the proceedings, a spokesperson for NHS Lothian confirmed that Stephen McFarlane is no longer employed by the health service, reflecting the serious consequences of his criminal conduct and professional misconduct.