April 2016 Sex abuse Norfolk Police GP jailed for three more years A family doctor who is already in prison for child sex offences has been sentenced to a further three years for indecently assaulting police officers. Hugh Blaise O’Neill, 62, had previously admitted indecently assaulting 13 mainly new female recruits, when he was medical adviser to Norfolk Police. The police assaults took place between 1991 and 2001. O’Neill had been jailed for 12 years in January 2015 for raping two girls between 1995 and 2002. Prosecutors at Norwich Crown Court said there had first been complaints of assault made by police recruits in 1993 following medical examinations. Kate Davey, prosecution counsel, said little was done by Norfolk Police, and O’Neill, of Tasburgh near Norwich, carried on abusing females in a “gross and repeated” breach of trust. She said: “A number of recruits had spoken to each other and to the authorities about what happened. “Dr O’Neill was told about the claims in 1993, but no further investigations followed. “It speaks volumes about his attitude that… he carried on abusing women for another nine years.” The force began investigating the crimes against its officers after O’Neill was jailed for the other offences, which related to two girls under the age of 14, but were not connected to his work as a GP at Horsford Medical Centre. Sentencing him to the additional three years, Judge Anthony Bate said: “You are a disgrace to an honourable profession.” Michael Claire, defence counsel, said his client “continues to deny all matters, but has his own reasons for pleading guilty”. Norfolk Police said another force would carry out a professional standards investigation. Outside court, Det Supt Kate Thacker said: “There are strong feelings among the victims and we will seek to support them.” January 2015 Doctor who raped two girls both under the age of 14 has been jailed for 12 years A doctor who raped two girls both under the age of 14 has been jailed for 12 years. Norwich Crown Court heard today how 61-year-old Dr Hugh Blaise O’Neill robbed two schoolgirls of their childhood by subjecting them to “terrifying” sexual abuse. O’Neill, who has since been suspended from his duties by local NHS managers, was a respected member of the community who worked as a Norfolk Police surgeon during the 1980s and as GP for 37 years. But his depraved sexual abuse came to light after one of the now adult victims was prompted to contact police as a result of media coverage of high profile sexual abuse cases. One of the victims said in a statement that she could no longer trust others and she regarded the abuse as her “terrible secret”. She added: “It was the most terrifying experience of my life. There is not one evening that goes by when I don’t relive what he did to me before going to sleep at night.” The other said she felt like she had been terrorised and had slept with a knife under her pillow in order to feel safe. “When I think about my childhood, I feel as though it was taken away from me,” she added. O’Neill pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of gross indecency against one victim, and two counts of gross indecency against a second victim. Sentencing him to 12 years in prison, Judge Anthony Bate said: “These offences reflect sustained sexual abuse. “The enduring impact of that violation, is movingly and poignantly described in the victim’s statement. “It was a breach of trust of the utmost gravity. You are now a broken man – your disgrace is complete.” Michael Clare, mitigating, accepted that O’Neill’s behaviour represented a breach of trust. He said that in every other aspect of his life, O’Neill was a law abiding, caring and “outstanding” man. “The higher you have risen in life, the harder the fall from grace,” he added. “He is experiencing that now: one week ago his wife told him that their marriage is over. He is at about the lowest ebb he has ever been.” December 2014 Former Norfolk doctor admits sex offences against two young girls A Horsford doctor has been warned he faces a substantial term of imprisonment after he admitted sexual offences involving two girls under 16. Hugh Blaise O’Neill, 61, from Tasburgh, South Norfolk, pleaded guilty to rape and gross indecency charges relating to one victim under 16 and one charge of gross indecency involving a second girl under 16. The charges date from the early 1990s to early 2000 and do not relate to his professional role . However he has been suspended from general practice by local NHS managers. O’Neill, who was casually dressed in a blue jumper and striped shirt, spoke only to confirm his name and pleas during yesterday’s plea and case management hearing at Norwich Crown Court. The case was adjourned for full reports and he is due to be sentenced on January 30. Judge Anthony Bate said that with his guilty pleas O’Neill must now sign on as a sex offender. He also warned him that he faced a “substantial term of imprisonment.” After the hearing former patients of the doctor, who worked at a practice in Horsford, spoke of their shock at his conviction. One man, who did not want to be named said O’Neill was a brilliant doctor who was very popular, but now faced disgrace. “Everyone is shocked and it is sad that his career has come to an end in this way.”