ROBERT WELLS' SHOCKING CRIMES IN BRIGHTON, CWMBRAN, AND SOUTHAMPTON REVEALED

In a series of deeply disturbing revelations, Robert Wells, a former general practitioner whose career spanned several decades across Brighton, Cwmbran, and Southampton, has been linked to a horrifying pattern of sexual abuse involving young patients. The gravity of his offenses has shocked communities and exposed serious failings within the medical and legal systems of the time.

Back in April 2017, Wells, aged 65, was convicted of four counts of indecent assault related to his time practicing medicine at Caerleon Surgery during the 1980s. The court heard that Wells, once considered an upstanding member of the community, had exploited his position of trust by instructing parents to wait outside his consulting room while he engaged in sexual misconduct with their children. Prosecutor Matthew Roberts described the acts as “a grotesque breach of trust,” emphasizing the severity of the crimes.

Wells, who was a registered medical practitioner at the time, has since been stripped of his license by the General Medical Council. The court proceedings revealed that the victims were three young girls, all of whom had been patients of Wells during his practice. The prosecutor stated, “All three suffered sexual abuse as children under the pretext of medical examination,” highlighting the manipulative tactics Wells employed.

These victims came forward after hearing about a previous court case involving Wells. In June 2004, Wells was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted at Winchester Crown Court of nine counts of child sexual abuse. His earlier convictions included two counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault, and the creation of an indecent image of an 11-year-old girl. Additionally, he was found guilty of drugging and indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl, as well as administering drugs to her five-year-old sister.

Prosecutor Roberts emphasized the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, stating, “The bond of trust between a doctor and a patient must be sacrosanct.” He also revealed that a complaint had been made by one of the victims’ mothers to Caerleon Surgery at the time, but it was dismissed dismissively, with staff telling her not to be “so silly.” This incident was described as a “gross failing of the system in the 1980s,” reflecting the systemic neglect that allowed Wells to continue his misconduct.

During the trial, it was disclosed that Wells would ask the children’s parents to wait outside during examinations, a tactic that facilitated his abuse. When questioned by police after his arrest, Wells claimed to have treated over 600 patients throughout his career and denied any sexual misconduct. He refused to provide handwriting samples, further complicating the investigation.

Victims’ statements painted a bleak picture of the lasting impact of Wells’ actions. One victim stated, “He has destroyed my life,” while another described her experience as “terrifying,” leading to depression and difficulty forming relationships. A third victim revealed that the abuse caused her to self-harm and attempt suicide. All three expressed feelings of betrayal, noting that Wells was once regarded as an “upstanding pillar of the community.”

Wells, who hails from Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, avoiding a trial. Judge Jeremy Jenkins condemned his actions as a “gross breach of trust,” emphasizing the profound and long-lasting effects on the victims. The judge remarked that Wells’ conduct was driven by “perverted sexual pleasure” and that it had shattered their trust in the medical profession.

As a result, Wells was sentenced to seven years in prison, and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to restrict his future activities. The case underscores the tragic consequences of abuse of power and highlights the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals within the healthcare system.

In a related incident from June 2004, it was revealed that Wells, then practicing in Brighton and Southampton as a forensic medical examiner, was granted bail to live near a primary school in Cwmbran while awaiting trial for a series of heinous sex offenses against young girls aged between 5 and 11. This decision sparked outrage among local parents, who expressed shock and concern over his proximity to children’s educational environments.

Wells, who was later jailed for 15 years for drugging, raping, and indecently assaulting young girls, was reportedly under 24-hour suicide watch at Bullingdon Prison in Oxfordshire. His lifestyle in the 1980s, which earned him the nickname “Romeo doctor,” was marked by extravagant spending and accumulating debts of approximately £1.5 million. His arrest in 2003, while living in Brighton and Southampton, revealed a man with a dark history of abuse and deception.

Community members in Cwmbran expressed their disbelief upon discovering Wells had lived among them, with one mother stating, “I was gobsmacked when I realised it was him. He has been living in our street for a year.” Many questioned the authorities’ decision to allow someone with such a criminal background to reside so close to a school and nursery, despite police assurances that Wells was closely monitored and no further incidents had been reported during his bail period. The police emphasized their efforts to safeguard residents, but the community’s trust had been deeply shaken by these revelations.