Security guard at Medway hospital avoids prison after convicted of sexual assault and possessing child abuse images

SECURITY GUARD AT MEDWAY HOSPITAL AVOIDS PRISON AFTER CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND POSSESSING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

A hospital security guard who laughed after rubbing his groin against a member of staff's backside as she bent over to pick up her identity card has been spared jail.

Christopher Falzon was working at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham when he molested the woman in the summer of 2021.

She could feel his erection and promptly swore at him, but the 40-year-old just laughed and continued to make sexual comments, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

The matter was reported to police and, during a search of his home, a laptop was seized on where more than 700 child abuse images were found.

Falzon, of Rock Avenue, Gillingham, was later charged with sexual assault, making indecent photographs of children and possessing prohibited images.

In total, there were 217 category A images, 205 of category B, and 298 of category C depicting both pubescent and pre-pubescent boys and girls, as well as six prohibited images of children.

He claimed others at work had access to the laptop but was subsequently convicted following a trial.

The judge sentenced him to a 15-month jail term suspended for two years, ordered him to undertake up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirements, and to wear a GPS ankle tag for five months.

He must also pay £1,000 towards costs, sign the sex offender register for 10 years, and a sexual harm prevention order was imposed for the same period.

The sentence reflected the court's view that despite the disturbing nature of his offenses, his lack of previous convictions and no subsequent offending justified the leniency, with a clear emphasis on rehabilitation.