STUART RUTHVEN FROM FLICTION AND PLYMOUTH: SHOCKING CHILD PORN CASE AT A ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

In a disturbing development, Stuart Ruthven, a doctor with connections to Flixton and Plymouth, has been found in possession of a staggering collection of approximately 5,000 child pornography images. Despite this grave offense, Ruthven was working at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool as recently as last month, participating in a training program that allowed him to be present within the hospital premises.

Ruthven’s criminal history dates back to 2003 when he was a Royal Navy surgeon. During that time, he was convicted of creating indecent photographs of children. His sentence included an 18-month community rehabilitation order, and he was required to register as a sex offender for a period of five years. Despite these sanctions, the General Medical Council (GMC) initially permitted him to continue practicing medicine, provided he did not treat patients under the age of 16. However, in December 2008, this restriction was lifted, allowing Ruthven to work with children again. At the time of his recent employment at Alder Hey, he was not violating any laws, court orders, or GMC regulations.

Currently, Ruthven, who is believed to be in his early 30s, is undergoing retraining as a pathologist. His role at Alder Hey was part of his ongoing study program, and he was working there between June 14 and June 25, under the supervision of the Mersey Deanery. The hospital confirmed that Ruthven had been employed there but emphasized that he never directly treated any patients during his stint.

Concerns about Ruthven’s employment and the potential risks he poses have been voiced by children’s charities, notably Kidscape. Claude Knights, the charity’s director, expressed serious alarm, stating, “The possession of indecent images of children represents a vile crime, which is even more despicable when the perpetrator is a doctor. The downloading of indecent images of children is never a victimless crime, and it encourages this deplorable trade. Some people would question whether this doctor’s sentence reflects fully the horror of his crimes.”

Ruthven is believed to be employed by the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, working under the auspices of the Mersey Deanery, which arranges his placements across various hospitals. The Deanery confirmed his recent work at Alder Hey but reiterated that he did not treat any patients there.

In a previous GMC hearing in 2006, Ruthven admitted to downloading the images at his parents’ house in Flixton, Trafford. He explained that during a tour of duty on a submarine in 2002, he experienced feelings of being “stir-crazy,” which he claimed contributed to his actions. His history of downloading images includes incidents in 1999 and 2003, with the latter occurring during an eight-month submarine deployment. Ruthven stated that the stressful conditions of his naval service, combined with frequent visits to strip clubs and widespread exposure to pornography, led him to seek out such material. He claimed, “In 2003 I was in a situation where myself and many of my friends were frequenting strip bars, pornography was fairly widespread and a common occurrence and I had seen a lot. I was bored and looking to see what was out there and I was desensitised. I didn’t go out specifically looking for child pornography.”

Despite the severity of his actions, the GMC’s professional conduct committee acknowledged that Ruthven’s decision to download such images demonstrated a “staggering lack of judgment.” Nonetheless, they also noted that the risk of re-offending appeared to be low or negligible, which influenced their decision to allow him to continue practicing medicine under supervision. The case remains under review, and Ruthven is expected to face an internal disciplinary hearing to determine further actions regarding his medical career.