Nottingham anaesthetist jailed for sexual offences

An anaesthetist from Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire has been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with an extended licence of four years for a series of sexual and indecent images offences.

Edward Finn, 36, had previously pleaded guilty to nine offences, including sexual assault, making and taking indecent images of children and voyeurism. His offences were first discovered when unsolicited sexual images were found on a disused tablet device. A further examination of the device revealed photos of an adult and child known to the defendant, taken without consent, so the matter was reported to the police.

Further investigations into all of Finn’s devices revealed thousands of indecent images of children, including over a hundred in the most serious category, and images of an adult and a child, taken during the course of his work.

When Finn’s offending came to light, he made an attempt to end his life before he was arrested and charged with 12 offences. He pleaded guilty to nine of these offences at a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on 19 January and was today, Friday 28 June, sentenced to a total of eight years' imprisonment, with an extended licence of four years and handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Emma Cornell from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Edward Finn’s offending was extremely concerning. He targeted victims who were in a vulnerable position and exploited them for his own gratification.

“Finn can have had no doubt that what he was doing was wrong. His victims were horrified to discover what he had been doing and have done the right thing in coming forward. There is no doubt that Finn would have continued with this behaviour had he not been stopped.”

Edward Finn was convicted of three counts of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of voyeurism, three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child and one count of sexual assault of a child. He pleaded not guilty to three other charges, one of sexual assault, one of theft and one of outraging public decency. Following consultation with those affected, these were left to lie on file.

Building the case

The evidence of Finn’s offending was compelling, with his activities recorded on his electronic devices. However, it was important to carry out a thorough investigation, both to ensure the courts could deal with the full extent of his offending and, given his position as an anaesthetist, for the protection of the public.

Prosecutors and police worked together to conduct a thorough investigation into Finn’s devices, which revealed his pattern of offending, including the extent of the images he had in his possession.

It was during the course of this examination that the images of the two patients from Finn’s work were uncovered. These were the subject of separate charges of voyeurism, sexual assault of a child and taking indecent images of children as they related to individual victims. One could not be identified from the photograph and the other, a child, was identified, traced and their parents informed.

All victims in the case have given impact statements about the impact Finn’s offending has had on them, which has been considered by the court as part of the sentencing exercise.

On the basis of his offending, Finn was determined to present a danger to the public.