Porn medic could face prison

Thousands of images have been seized in Operation Ore

A hospital consultant who admitted downloading child porn from the internet has been warned he could face prison.

South Wales radiologist Charles Bartlett, 49, was released on bail after the hearing was adjourned for psychological reports.

But Swansea Crown Court judge Mr Justice Pitchford warned him that his case "easily passed the custody threshold".

Bartlett, of Ferryside, Llanelli, had previously admitted 17 charges of making and possessing indecent photographs of children.

The father of two was arrested by police in June as part of Operation Ore, the world-wide hunt for paedophiles backed by the FBI.

Huw Rees, prosecuting, told the court today that five CDs and a computer seized from Bartlett's home jointly contained 1,682 indecent images.

'Broad-minded'

"The computer and compact discs were examined by experts and formed the basis of the case against the defendant," said Mr Rees.

Some of the material showed children as young as six or seven engaged in sexual acts. Others showed teenage girls. They were created between October 1998 and April 2001.

Bartlett later described himself to the police as being "broad-minded", saying he only drew the line at sites showing black women and gay men.

When police initially searched his home he admitted storing pornographic material, saying: "This is so embarrassing, you are going to think I'm a dirty old man."

He told police he would subscribe to pornographic websites when he was drunk and would never be able to find them again when he was sober.

He explained having a double subscription to the "most erotic teens" site by saying he thought it would contain artistic pictures.

Christopher Clee, defending, said Bartlett had resigned from his job at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen.

In a letter from Bartlett partly read out in court today he said: "I wish to apologise to all my patients, and the parents of any younger patients, and assure them that the part of my life that brought me to this was always completely separate."

Mr Clee added: "Those who know him cannot speak highly enough of him.

"When someone as eminent falls from grace, it is a spectacular fall, and the stigma will attach itself to him for life. "In reality, his future within the medical profession that he has served so well for the past 25 years is bleak."

The judge said it was not the time to make observations about the material before the court.

"The court is faced either with sentencing you to prison or with investigating the possibility that the public would be better served by putting you on a sex offenders' treatment programme conducted by the probation service," he told Bartlett.

He said the case would be adjourned for at least two weeks whilst further reports were compiled.