Missed clues left pervert doctor free to abuse boys investigation reveals
A PAEDOPHILE doctor manipulated hospital rules to help him gain the trust of his victims and their parents, an independent investigation has found.
A report into the conduct of Myles Bradbury found clues to his offending had been missed.
However it said his colleagues could not be blamed because the doctor gave “plausible” explanations for his behaviour.
Bradbury ignored hospital rules on chaperones to abuse young boys behind curtains while also seeing very young children alone and outside routine clinic times.
When one doctor asked why he was seeing a young boy alone, his explanation that the boy was being bullied was accepted.
Bradbury, of Herringswell, Suffolk, was jailed for 22 years in December for sexual assault, voyeurism and possessing more than 16,000 indecent images.
He admitted abusing 18 boys in his care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, between 2009 and 2013.
After an appeal, his sentence was reduced to 16 years in custody with an additional six years on licence.
The report for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust by consultancy firm Verita found Bradbury groomed patients by taking an interest in their social lives and by making parents feel special.
Staff noticed he was reluctant to have medical students with him when he saw patients but accepted his reasons.
The damage he caused can never be undone
He said he did not like students present when he had sensitive discussions with families.
One doctor noticed he seemed to focus unduly on the impact of children’s conditions on the development of puberty.
The report found Bradbury was able to manipulate hospital policy on chaperones by befriending patients’ families, giving them his mobile number and booking appointments directly with them.
One consultant told investigators that families felt Bradbury had built a rapport with them.
“All of them said, ‘We liked him. We thought he was a wonderful doctor. We trusted him implicitly’.”
David Wherrett, acting chief executive of the trust, said: “I want to say sorry again to our patients and families who placed their trust in Myles Bradbury and instead became victims of his cold and calculating abuse.”
Jessica Standley, a lawyer for one of the victims, said: “The damage he caused can never be undone.”