ANDREW FORD SHREWSBURY AND TORQUAY NURSE BANNED OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DOWNLOADS

In a significant disciplinary action, Andrew Ford, a senior nurse with connections to both Shrewsbury and Torquay, has been permanently removed from the nursing profession following his involvement in downloading child pornography. The case unfolded after Ford was arrested by police in Torquay during an investigation into a paedophile pornography ring, which uncovered disturbing evidence on his personal computer.

Ford, aged 42 at the time, was taken into custody by Torquay police, and the investigation revealed that he had accessed and downloaded indecent images involving minors. The Devonshire Partnership Trust, which employed Ford, became aware of the allegations eight days after his arrest when they conducted a routine check through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). This check revealed that Ford was under suspicion for possessing and distributing child pornography. Subsequently, Ford accepted a police caution for the offence of downloading indecent images and was required to register as a sex offender for a period of two years.

Despite the serious nature of his actions, Ford did not appear before a misconduct hearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Instead, he submitted a letter claiming that the images he downloaded were not erotic in nature. However, the NMC panel, led by Judith Way, dismissed this assertion, emphasizing that Ford’s actions were fundamentally incompatible with the standards expected of a registered nurse. The panel expressed disappointment that Ford failed to fully acknowledge the severity of his conduct and noted that he minimized the police caution, claiming it was for a single 'category one' image, which is considered the least serious type of indecent image.

Mrs. Way, speaking on behalf of the panel, stated, “There is no reason to doubt the police officer’s evidence that the caution was for 25 images in categories one to three.” She further criticized Ford for demonstrating limited insight into his actions. The panel concluded that although Ford did not commit his viewing of pornography at work, his behavior nonetheless represented a serious breach of professional standards. The panel was unanimous in its decision that allowing Ford to remain registered would undermine public confidence in the nursing profession, leading to the decision to strike him off the register.

Ford’s employment history with the Devonshire Partnership NHS Trust dates back to May 2002, when he joined the organization. The trust conducts CRB checks every three years, and in January 2008, they received a disclosure indicating that Ford was under investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police for a child pornography offence. Jennifer Parker, the trust’s human resources manager, testified that police had conducted a search at Ford’s home on January 8, 2008, seizing his computer and other items. The subsequent investigation uncovered 25 indecent images, with 21 classified as level one, one at level two, and three at level three. The images depicted young females, approximately 14 years old, posing naked.

Ford maintained that he only accessed such material at home and never used a work computer for this purpose. He also claimed that three and a half years prior, he had received and forwarded some of these images. Following the investigation, Ford was suspended from his duties and eventually resigned, citing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. In a letter to the NMC, Ford expressed remorse, stating, “I self-presented myself at Torquay police station in January 2008 after police seized my computer, and I was arrested and interviewed. During the interview I was told I had received an email from an unknown person containing a picture of a girl of about 14. I was told it was a category one image. There was no sexual content or others present, but I regret I forwarded it on. I never made or took any indecent photographs of children. I was told a police caution was the minimum I could receive for such an offence and that I must also sign the sex offenders’ register for two years. It was a devastating blow but one I fully understand as the police have to do their duty.”

Now residing in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Ford sought to have the hearing conducted privately, but the NMC panel rejected this request. He admitted to receiving a police caution in August but denied that the images he downloaded were indecent or that his fitness to practice as a nurse was impaired. Nonetheless, the panel found all charges against him proved, leading to his disqualification from the nursing profession due to the serious breach of conduct and standards expected of healthcare professionals.