CARL PRITCHARD SHIRLEY AND STRATTON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

In a shocking case that has sent ripples through the medical community and the local towns of Shirley and Stratton, Dr. Carl Pritchard, aged 36, has been permanently removed from his position as a medical professional after being found guilty of possessing and attempting to distribute child pornography.

Dr. Pritchard, who previously resided in Sherwold Close, Lower Stratton, was arrested by police authorities following a tip-off from the FBI. The investigation revealed that he had used his credit card to access highly disturbing and illegal websites based in the United States, which specialized in child exploitation content. The authorities acted swiftly, and during the course of the investigation, detectives detained Pritchard as part of a broader crackdown on internet-based paedophile activities.

Analysis of his personal computer by cybercrime experts uncovered a disturbing collection of files with explicit titles, some of which indicated content involving adults engaging in sexual acts with young girls. These files included three that explicitly suggested sexual activity between adults and minors. Pritchard, who was employed as an anaesthetist in the paediatric intensive care unit at Southampton General Hospital, initially claimed that a computer virus must have been responsible for placing the illicit images on his device. However, this defense was ultimately unsuccessful.

On June 7 of the previous year, Pritchard pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court to seven charges related to attempting to produce indecent photographs of children. The court, acknowledging the severity of his actions, decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, the judge ordered Pritchard to serve a two-year community rehabilitation order and mandated that he register as a sex offender for a period of five years.

Further details presented by Stephen Brassington, representing the General Medical Council (GMC), revealed that Pritchard's misconduct dated back to 1999. During that year, he had used his credit card to access a website called Nude Teens, operated by US-based Landslide Productions Inc. The investigation also uncovered that Pritchard had been involved in an online newsgroup dedicated to sharing erotic images of girls aged between 13 and 17. Out of 275 messages exchanged within this group, Pritchard had opened 15, and the attached files included titles such as 'horny children,' highlighting the disturbing nature of his online activities.

Despite the gravity of his offenses, Pritchard did not appear at the disciplinary hearing held in London. The panel, led by Chairman Mr. Kenneth Robb, emphasized the seriousness of such crimes, stating that they severely undermine public confidence in the medical profession and tarnish its reputation. As a result, the panel decided to erase Dr. Pritchard's name from the medical register, effectively ending his career in medicine and serving as a stark warning to others in the field.