MARTIN COOMBER BASINGSTOKE PARAMEDIC STRUCK OFF AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL

In a significant disciplinary action, Martin Philip Coomber, a 47-year-old paramedic from Cliddesden Road in Basingstoke, has been formally removed from the medical register following a series of serious criminal charges related to child exploitation images. The decision was made after a hearing conducted by the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) on December 21, which concluded that Coomber’s conduct was incompatible with the standards expected of healthcare professionals.

Prior to this, Coomber had already been convicted in May 2017 at Winchester Crown Court, where he received a sentence of six months in jail, suspended for two years. The court found that he possessed over 1,000 indecent images of children, some of which were classified in the most severe categories of abuse material. Despite the gravity of these offences, Coomber avoided immediate imprisonment, but the conviction had lasting repercussions on his professional standing.

During the recent tribunal hearing, it was noted that Coomber chose not to appear before the panel. This decision was consistent with his prior indication that he was aware of the likelihood of being struck off and that he wished to exit his role as a paramedic as swiftly and smoothly as possible. The hearing report highlighted that Coomber’s actions had brought disrepute to his profession and violated the core principles that underpin healthcare practice.

The panel reviewed the circumstances surrounding his arrest on August 3, 2016, which revealed that Coomber’s possession of child abuse images was not only extensive but also highly disturbing. The evidence showed that police found 31 images classified as Category A, representing the most extreme form of child exploitation material. Additionally, there were 27 images in Category B and 18 in Category C, along with nearly 1,000 still images in Category C. These findings underscored the severity of his offences.

Members of the HCPTS emphasized that the charges against Coomber were 'extremely serious' and that his conviction significantly undermined public confidence in the paramedic profession. The panel expressed that such conduct was incompatible with the responsibilities entrusted to healthcare professionals and posed a potential risk to the public.

In reaching their decision, the tribunal panel stated that no alternative disciplinary measure would suffice given the gravity of the case. They concluded that imposing a caution or allowing him to continue practicing without restrictions would fail to protect the public interest. The panel’s primary concern was to uphold the integrity of the profession, deter similar misconduct, and maintain high standards of conduct among practitioners.

Consequently, the panel decided to strike Coomber’s name from the medical register, effectively removing him from the list of registered healthcare professionals. This action serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences faced by individuals who breach the trust placed in them, especially when it involves the exploitation of children and the violation of societal moral standards.