Practitioner avoids prison

Suspended practitioner Stephen Kimberley who was found guilty of possessing indecent photographs of children (News 03.09.10) has avoided a prison term.

Having pleaded guilty to one charge of making indecent images of a child, Kimberley was sentenced to a three-year community order with three years' supervision in Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, according to the news website This is Staffordshire. He was also required to attend a sex offenders' group work programme for internet users, pay £500 prosecution costs and will be on the sex offenders register for five years.

Kimberley lost his job as a result of the conviction and has been without work since February. The General Optical Council had suspended his registration in the interests of public safety until the criminal process was completed and a fitness to practise committee has considered the case.