Great Ormond St porter admits 69 child sex assaults

A FORMER Great Ormond Street Hospital porter has admitted a sickening catalogue of 69 child sex offences against boys as young as five.

Paul Farrell, 55, has pleaded guilty to attacking eight victims over a period of 35 years, including assaults at the world renowned London children’s hospital.

When he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court yesterday, he admitted indecently assaulting a boy aged between five and seven between April 1985 and April 1987.

Farrell, who worked at GOSH between 1994 and 2020, also admitted 12 charges of indecent assault against another boy from 1992 to 1998, when he was aged between six and 11.

But he denied five counts of indecency with a child in relation to the same victim and now faces trial on the charges.

Farrell is said to have groomed the youngster and sexually abused him hundreds of times at different locations.

The court has heard Farrell did not target patients at the hospital, but at least two alleged victims claimed they were sexually abused in areas he had access to.

Farrell has previously pleaded guilty to a string of charges relating to six other complainants, none of whom can be named for legal reasons, who are now aged between eight and 43.

The offences, carried out between 1985 and 2020, include attempted rape, sexual assault of a child under 13 and making indecent photographs of children. A further 20 charges have been left to lie on file.

The hospital has previously said in a statement: ‘These are truly awful charges and we know that our hospital community, including our patient families, will have concerns or questions.

‘Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot go into the details of the case, but we can confirm that the individual who has been charged was dismissed from the trust. Safeguarding children is fundamental to the care we provide. If patients, their families or colleagues raise concerns about staff there is a clear and swift process to manage these concerns when they are raised.’

Farrell will next appear in court on March 12.