MATTHEW LARKIN FROM NORTH WALES AND WIRRAL STRUCK OFF DENTISTRY OVER GROOMING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In December 2017, a serious case involving a dentist from Wirral and North Wales drew significant attention to issues of child safety and professional misconduct. Matthew Larkin, who had been practicing at Westbourne Dental Practice in Wirral for over a decade, faced severe disciplinary action after being found guilty of grooming a young boy and possessing indecent images of children.

Matthew Larkin, originally from North Wales, had built his career after completing his studies at the University of Liverpool. His professional life took a dark turn when he pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences at Liverpool Crown Court in November 2016. The charges included three counts of causing or inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity, as well as three counts of making indecent images of children.

Among the images found in his possession, some were classified as Category A, which is the most serious classification, indicating that they involved penetrative acts with children. This evidence underscored the severity of his crimes and the potential harm inflicted upon the victims.

Following his conviction, Larkin was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, suspended for a year. Despite being out of paid employment since his sentencing, he expressed a desire to return to his profession as a dentist. However, his hopes were dashed when the General Dental Council’s conduct committee took decisive action to protect the public and uphold the integrity of the dental profession.

The committee determined that Larkin’s conduct posed a significant risk of harm to the public, even though the assessed risk was not deemed high. The report explicitly stated that the potential for “significant harm to the public” justified the decision to ban him from practicing dentistry altogether. The committee emphasized that a finding of current impairment was necessary in the wider public interest, given the nature of his convictions and their potential to undermine confidence in dental professionals.

In a formal statement, the conduct committee declared that, due to the gravity of the offences and their implications for public trust, it would be wholly inappropriate to allow Larkin to continue practicing without consequence. The committee made it clear that unless Larkin exercised his right to appeal, his name would be permanently removed from the Dentists Register, effectively ending his career in dentistry and serving as a stark warning about the importance of safeguarding children and maintaining professional standards.