A MEMBER of a hospital operating theatre team has been struck off after being found guilty of making indecent images of children.

Operating department practitioner Steve Nutton was struck off the HCPC Register after being convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children whilst employed by City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Nutton was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court in February 2014 after pleading guilty to making and possessing indecent photographs of children, and for possession of extreme pornography.

The panel also heard that Nutton admitted in a police interview that he had been responsible for visiting a website and downloading the images on an NHS leased laptop, and that he had been drinking at the time.

Nutton was sentenced to appear on the register of sex offenders until 2019.

He also received a community service order and a sexual offences prevention order was imposed for a period of five years.

Panel Chair Manuela Grayson commented: “An entry on the Sex Offenders Register is sufficient in itself to underline the seriousness of Steve Nutton’s behaviour. The panel noted that there were victims of this crime who had suffered actual harm in the making of the images that he viewed.

“Steve Nutton’s actions have brought the dignity and respect of the profession into question.”

The panel decided the most appropriate action was to strike Nutton from the register with an interim suspension order in place to cover the appeal period.

Nutton was not present or represented at the hearing.