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Community service for GP who had 200 child abuse images

Lyndsey Telford
BBC News NI
Pacemaker Alan Trevor Campbell outside court, he has short brown hair with grey bits and a beard. He is wearing dark framed glasses, a grey/blue suit with a white shirt with blue pinstripes and a light blue tie. Pacemaker
Alan Trevor Campbell had photographs and videos on six devices

A GP who was convicted of having more than 200 indecent images of children has been sentenced to 75 hours of community service.

Alan Trevor Campbell, from Silverbrook Park in Newbuildings, County Londonderry, was also handed a two-year probation order.

The photographs and videos found on six of Campbell's devices were classed as category A, B and C - with A the most serious, denoting images involving sexual activity or sadism.

At Downpatrick Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC told the court 40-year-old Campbell has "lost his career, his marriage, and likely this will impact on the direct access to his child".

Standing in the dock Campbell was told if he breached the terms of his sentence he could face nine months in custody.

He pleaded guilty to 11 charges relating to possessing and making indecent images and videos of children.

Internet searches

The charges relate to dates between October 2014 and January 2022.

Campbell had been working as a GP at a medical practice in Donaghadee, County Down, when he was arrested in January 2022.

Six devices were seized and searched, including two mobile phones, laptops and external hard drives.

Judge Miller said during his sentencing remarks that Campbell told police that he had been having problems in his marriage and struggling with fertility when he turned to pornography to try to help him.

However, he said that "pushed past what was decent".

He said Campbell was "disgusted with himself" and that he accepted responsibility but denied having a sexual interest in children.

He said internet search terms Campbell used were relevant, as well as the fact his offending took place over a long period of time.

Judge Miller added Campbell's offending clearly had an impact on victims and each download represented "a further abuse of the unfortunate child".

In addition, the judge also imposed a five year Sexual offences Prevention Order and told Campbell that he will have to remain on the police sex offenders register for five years.