Practitioner suspended

A practitioner has been suspended by the GOC for 18 months after being found guilty of possessing indecent photographs of children.

Stephen Kimberley was charged on January 29 2010 with making and possessing indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children.

The GOC first learnt about Kimberley's conviction after being notified by the defendant's employer in February this year.

Kimberley is awaiting sentencing by the Crown Court after pleading guilty to the charge involving video images, which are said to be level four on the Oliver scale, at a public hearing on July 20 2010.

The committee ruled that in the interests of public safety, Kimberley's registration should be suspended until the criminal process was completed and the GOC fitness to practise committee had considered the case.