CHRISTOPHER BALL FROM CHORLTON STRUCK OFF NHS AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES DISCOVERY

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the medical community and the local area of Chorlton, NHS doctor Christopher Ball has faced severe professional and legal consequences following the discovery of child sexual abuse images on his personal devices. The incident came to light in July 2019 when Ball's wife uncovered highly disturbing files on his laptop while attempting to watch the popular television series Game of Thrones.

According to reports, Dr. Christopher Ball, aged 35 and employed at University Hospital Coventry in the West Midlands, was arrested after his wife found a file named 'child porn 3-16' on his computer. She then handed the device over to police authorities, which led to a detailed investigation. A subsequent search of Ball's laptop revealed an alarming collection of over 1,500 indecent images, including 22 movies and 196 photographs depicting the most severe forms of child abuse. These findings prompted immediate legal action against him.

Ball was charged and ultimately convicted on six counts of possessing indecent images of children. Despite the gravity of his offenses, he was sentenced to a two-year community order and was mandated to participate in a sex offender rehabilitation program. Notably, he avoided imprisonment, but his professional career was not spared. He was suspended from his position at University Hospital Coventry and was subsequently banned indefinitely from practicing medicine following disciplinary proceedings.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, which convened in Manchester to review his case, emphasized the profound breach of trust involved in such conduct. Tribunal chairman Geoffrey Payne stated, 'The Tribunal considered that a reasonable and well-informed member of the public would be horrified to learn that a doctor had downloaded indecent images of children.' The tribunal underscored that Ball's actions represented a fundamental violation of the public's trust in medical professionals.

Further revelations emerged during the tribunal hearing, revealing that Ball's wife had previously discovered similar disturbing images on his laptop nearly a decade earlier. She claimed to have found these images in the recycle bin of the same device, which her husband dismissed as 'pop-ups' that appeared while he was playing online video games. The tribunal noted that although this was Ball's first conviction, evidence suggested a long-standing pattern of such behavior, indicating that his impulses to view child abuse images had persisted throughout his adult life.

The tribunal also condemned Ball for providing an implausible defense, claiming he only viewed these images to 'calm himself' during stressful times. Geoffrey Payne remarked, 'It was of particular concern that Dr. Ball-Nossa claimed that he was not viewing these images for sexual gratification, but instead used them as a means to 'calm' himself. The Tribunal does not accept that explanation, as it is inherently implausible.' The tribunal further highlighted that Ball had admitted to having 'inappropriate thoughts' about children since he was 17 years old, revealing a troubling pattern of behavior from a young age.

In light of these findings, the tribunal concluded that Ball's fitness to practice was impaired due to his criminal conduct. The panel emphasized that such behavior fundamentally breaches the trust placed in medical professionals and damages the reputation of the entire profession. As a result, it was decided that Dr. Christopher Ball's name be erased from the Medical Register, effectively ending his medical career and public trust in his professional integrity.