CITY GP’S CHILD ABUSE IMAGES SHAME
DISGRACED DOCTOR CAUGHT WITH 16,000 INDECENT PICTURES OF CHILDREN
A SENIOR doctor who worked at one of Cardiff’s largest GP practices has been caught with more than 16,000 indecent images of children on his laptop.
Dr Armon Daniels, 55, was told he had brought “embarrassment and shame” on his family as a court yesterday heard details of his vile collection of pictures and videos.
Sentencing, Judge Thomas Crowther QC described the number of images found on the defendant’s computer as “astonishing”.
But Daniels, who worked at Rumney Primary Care Centre on Barmouth Road, was spared an immediate prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images.
The court heard police searched his home in Cyncoed, Cardiff, at 7am on January 19 after receiving intelligence that his IP address had been used to access indecent images.
Robert Goodwin, prosecuting, said he told an officer: “Yes, it’s me. It’s on my laptop. I’ve deleted it now.”
Police seized his laptop and two USB sticks, which were found to contain 16,168 Class C still images and 847 Class C moving images.
Newport Crown Court heard the devices were also found to have 106 of the more serious Class B still images and 12 Class B videos.
Prosecutors said Class C images show children in sexual poses, while Class B images show children engaging in sexual activity.
Mr Goodwin said some of the images had been viewed recently, some more than once, a number were deleted and others not viewed at all.
Daniels, of Cyncoed Road, was interviewed twice and replied “no comment” to all questions.
Ali Bajwa QC, defending, said Daniels had shown “exemplary character” for 54 years and had no previous convictions. He said Daniels, who also trained young doctors, had been a practising GP for 29 years, but is unlikely to work as a doctor again.
The defence barrister told the court his client held an honorary position at a university and taught trainee doctors. He described the defendant as a “wonderful husband” and “exemplary father”.
The court heard Daniels has sought help and his counsellor described his offending as a “belated rebellion” by an otherwise high achiever.
Judge Crowther noted the “sheer number” of images involved.
He told the defendant: “That occupation will be lost to you. It is difficult to see how you could have the confidence of any parent to treat their child.”
The judge added: “You have brought embarrassment and shame to yourself and to your family. It should not be a surprise to you to realise that each of those children is a real child.”
Daniels was jailed for eight months but this was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity plus 120 hours of unpaid work. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed and Daniels must pay £500 costs, as well as a victim surcharge.
Judge Crowther told him his file would be sent to the Fitness To Practice Committee of the General Medical Council.
A spokesman for Rumney Primary Care Centre said: “As soon as the partners were made aware of Dr Daniels’ arrest in January 2017, steps were taken to ensure that he did not attend the practice and at no time did he consult with patients.”
They added: “We would like to reassure all patients that Dr Daniels’ offences did not relate in any way to the practice. We can confirm that all actions that Dr Daniels has pleaded guilty to took place outside of the practice.”