Shock after top doctor admits child sex charges
FORMER patients of a Glasgow surgeon who was snared by police in the hotel where he planned to sexually abuse a teenage girl have spoken of their shock.
John Crooks, 54, who treated patients at Stobhill Hospital and was a dad-ofthree, sent online messages including pictures of his private parts to what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
However, the ‘teenager’ he was grooming was actually an undercover female police officer, working as part of a national child abuse investigations unit.
The online abuse happened from February to March last year, while Crooks is understood to have been employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and other private hospitals as a surgeon, specialising in urological conditions and cancers.
It is understood the doctor’s computer was seized by officers at Stobhill Hospital, however the grooming took place at a property in Lenzie, Kirkintilloch and other addresses.
The consultant, of Oxhill Road Dumbarton, who also worked privately for Nuffield and Rosshall hospitals, was given a three-year community payback order and placed on the sex offenders register after a hearing on Wednesday at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The former surgeon from Dumbarton pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to attempting to communicate indecently with a child, and attempting to cause a child to view a sexual images by sending pictures of his penis, on various occasions between February 2018 and March 2018. He also admitted attempting to meet an underage girl “with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual behaviour
Twelve police witnesses gave evidence during the hearing.
One former patient said: “I wondered where he had gone, I’m now being treated by someone else. I can’t believe it.”
Others questioned why the consultant did not receive a jail sentence.
The head of Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, welcomed the conviction saying: “Crooks targeted what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, grooming her online in a highly sexualised manner.
“Child sex offenders come from all walks of life, their single characteristic is that they choose to prey on and abuse children.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the consultant, who is a graduate of the University of Glasgow, hasn’t worked for the board since March 2018.
His registration to practice as a doctor was suspended by the General Medical Council on April 26, last year and an investigation is ongoing.
DI Mark Lambley, National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Police Scotland said: “Crooks targeted what he thought was a 14 year-old girl, grooming her online in a highly sexualised manner.
“He made arrangements to meet, and was arrested when he arrived at the hotel where he had intended to sexually abuse her.
“Strict legal processes govern how police officers engage online to identify perpetrators and to protect children.
“The use of online resources is always part of a wider investigation and our priority is to protect children and reduce any risk of harm.
“Child sex offenders come from all walks of life, their single characteristic is that they choose to prey on and abuse children.
“Offenders need to understand that they alone are responsible for their actions, that they could lose everything and that they cannot hide online.
“We welcome today’s sentence and urge anyone who has concerns or who has been a victim of online sexual abuse to contact us on 101.”