A Northern Ireland doctor convicted of paying for sex and possessing an indecent image of a child will be struck off the medical register.
Andrew Gibson was sentenced earlier this year for paying for sex on two occasions in 2021, and for possessing an indecent image of a child and two extreme pornographic images, again in 2021.
He was ordered to complete 18 months on probation and sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.
As part of his probation he has to abide by a series of conditions, including no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 or vulnerable adults, without the prior approval of his probation officer
The Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service ruled that Gibson’s fitness to practice was impaired due to his convictions and on yesterday said he is to be erased from the medical register, which will happen after 28 days of the tribunal’s decision, unless an appeal is made.
Gibson did not attend this week’s tribunal hearings, despite being contacted about them on several occasions, nor was he represented by counsel.
On Wednesday, Jade Bucklow, barrister for the General Medical Council (GMC) outlined the background to Gibson’s offending.
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Regarding the convictions for paying for sex, Ms Bucklow said Gibson met the woman in question on a messaging app and they “built a rapport”, before meeting for sex on two occasions on dates between June 15 and 18, 2021, and again on July 19 of the same year.
Following the meeting for sex on July 19, Gibson told police the woman “began to behave unusually in a way that was concerning him”.
While later travelling in his car, the woman jumped from the vehicle and an ambulance was called. Gibson was subsequently arrested.
Police examined Gibson’s phone after his arrest and discovered an indecent image of a child and two extreme pornographic images.
The disgraced medic was charged and later pleaded guilty in court to two counts of paying for sex, one count of possessing an indecent image of a child, and one count of possessing two extreme pornographic images.
On the second day of hearings on Thursday, chair Stephen Killen said the tribunal had ruled Gibson’s fitness to practice was impaired by reason of his convictions.
The GMC recommended that Gibson be removed from the medical register. Ms Bucklow said the conditions of Gibson’s probation are “incompatible” with being a practising doctor.
Ms Bucklow also said possessing an indecent image of a child and extreme pornography were “morally deplorable” crimes, which have a “significant and detrimental” impact on the medical profession.
She said there was no evidence of remediation on the part of Gibson, shown in his non-engagement with the GMC over the case, and a suspension would “not be appropriate” in terms of a sanction.
Yesterday the tribunal agreed with the GMC’s sanction recommendation.
“The appropriate sanction is erasure from the medical register,” Mr Killen said.