Paedophile cancer specialist Dr Myles Bradbury 'abused children while parents were in the room'

He targeted his young patients with serious diseases for over four years

Dr Myles Bradbury, 41, as Cambridge Crown Court has heard that Bradbury, who admitted abusing boys in his care had escaped detection for more than four years because parents trusted and respected him (Chris Radburn/PA Wire)

A paediatric doctor was able to abuse over a dozen cancer patients in his care because he had earned the trust of their parents, a court has heard.

Over a period of four-and-a-half-years, cancer specialist Dr Myles Bradbury’s abused 18 children aged between 10 and 16, some of whom he examined “purely for his own sexual gratification” and with no medical justification, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

He abused children with serious diseases including haemophilia and leukaemia, and on occasion took the opportunity to fondle their genitals behind a curtain while their parents were in the room.

The married father-of-one, 41, has pleaded guilty to 25 offences including sexual assault, voyeurism and possessing more than 16,000 indecent images.

Police also found 170,425 images on a camera pen which he used to capture photos of the boys when partially clothed, but none of these were classed as indecent.

Bradbury, who worked at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, had a "longstanding, unlawful, sexual interest in boys", said prosecutor John Farmer.

He was also involved in church and Scout groups, and was described as "a man of great charm and persuasiveness" whom everybody trusted.

The parents of one boy were so grateful for his treatment that they remarked they might organise a ball in his honour and give him an award.

Bradbury would isolate patients them from their parents, and ask them to remove their clothes before groping their genitals and encouraging them to masturbate for his own personal gratification.

When one victim raised concerns with his mother, she responded: "He's a doctor, it must be necessary."

One victim said in a statement read to the court that he is “anxious” about vising the doctor "because I don't know who I should trust".

"I have haemophilia and a pain in my side so I know I should go but I feel disgusted and weird.

Another said he had regular nightmares, felt stressed and lacked confidence.

Bradbury was first arrested in December 2013 after Canadian authorities alerted the police that he had bought a DVD containing indecent images of children, at a time when Cambridgeshire Police were already investigating after concerns were raised about his conduct.

In mitigation, Bradbury's barrister Angela Rafferty said his guilty pleas had spared his victims the ordeal of giving evidence in court.

Ms Rafferty added that he accepted what he did was “repugnant”.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth warned Bradbury that he faces a substantial prison sentence.

Bradbury was remanded in custody tonight and faces sentencing on Monday.