GARETH YOUNGS FROM MIDDLESBROUGH STRUCK OFF NURSE INVOLVED IN CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES SCANDAL
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Middlesbrough, Gareth Youngs, a former nurse employed at the renowned James Cook University Hospital, has been officially removed from the nursing register following his involvement in possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children.Youngs, aged 36, was found to have accumulated an alarming total of 7,500 such images, which he downloaded over a period exceeding ten years.
The investigation revealed that he was regularly accessing and downloading hundreds of these illicit images each week, a pattern that demonstrated a long-standing and compulsive behavior.
His criminal activities came to light on January 13 of the previous year when police officers executed a raid on his residence in Middlesbrough.
During the search, authorities uncovered the extensive collection of child abuse images, leading to his subsequent arrest.
Youngs did not deny the charges; he admitted to possessing 17 child abuse pictures and pleaded guilty in court on March 19 of this year.
Following his conviction, Youngs was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court to a four-month jail term, which was suspended, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses.
The seriousness of his actions was further recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which held a misconduct hearing and decided to remove him from the professional register permanently.
During the hearing, Youngs, who is currently unemployed, expressed remorse and described his addiction to adult pornography as a factor that spiraled out of control.
He explained, “Because of my addiction to adult porn, it just seemed to happen too easily.
I downloaded those images — I can’t say I didn’t.” He also acknowledged the cognitive distortions that justified his actions at the time, stating, “It’s only a picture on a screen, you’re not harming anyone.” He further admitted that he was unaware of the true nature of some files he downloaded, claiming that many were deleted immediately after viewing.
Youngs revealed that after his arrest, he moved out of his family home and has been grappling with the guilt and shame associated with his crimes.
“I know it was wrong, and the guilt that follows after seeing something like that is the thing that really haunts you,” he said.
He also admitted to not being fully honest with his wife and parents, emphasizing that his family remains the most important aspect of his life, a realization he only came to after the incident.
As part of the legal consequences, Youngs was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years, and he was banned from working with children for life.
Additionally, he was ordered to complete a specialized program designed for convicted sex offenders.
Despite his previous employment with the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, he was dismissed from his position following the revelations.
Currently, Youngs is pursuing studies at college, but he has faced significant difficulties in securing employment due to the stain of his conviction.
He expressed a deep sense of loss regarding his career in nursing, stating, “Nursing, from the day I started as a student, has been my life.
Caring for people is something that I’ve always been able to do without too much effort.” Chairing the misconduct panel, Colin Youngson emphasized the gravity of Youngs’ actions despite the references from colleagues and medical professionals.
“You have made full and frank admissions about the facts from the outset of the police investigation, shown remorse for your actions, and a will to ensure it did not re-occur,” he said.
“But this is serious criminal misconduct over a protracted period of time.” Following the ruling, Youngs left the hearing prematurely, stating, “To be honest, I’ve nothing left to say.
You can save your breath, I won’t be appealing.” He had previously requested that his identity be protected to shield his family from potential harm, but the panel rejected this request.
Under current regulations, Youngs may seek to have his name restored to the nursing register after a period of five years.
