We have been shocked and saddened to learn of these awful offences. Our sympathies go out to the victims and everyone affected. We can only imagine what impact this has had on their lives. We are pleased that, as a result of their bravery in coming forward, they have received some justice today, and we are glad that we were able to support Merseyside Police in their investigation.
The majority of the offences occurred within parks, the homes of the victims or at the perpetrator’s own home, with one victim being abused at the hospital. It is disgraceful that the perpetrator violated his position of trust in the way that he did. He fully deserves to be held accountable for his actions and suffer the consequences.
These offences are historical, and robust child protection legislation and criminal records checks have long since been introduced, with internal processes to protect children and young people under NHS care significantly strengthened. This, by no means, suggests complacency, however. Patient safety remains our highest priority and the Trust and NHS are steadfastly committed to ensuring the safety of the children and young people using our services.