Child Porn Army Nurse David Gregory Could be Struck Off

An army nurse caught with child porn on his computer is to face a full hearing next month. David Gregory, 43, of Preston, was arrested and cautioned following an investigation by detectives from West Mercia Police in the West Midlands last year.

Police had found the images on his computer after a boy claimed Gregory and other men had been grooming him over the internet.

The boy also claimed he had been paid to perform sex acts on a webcam, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

An NMC panel today extended the period of Gregory's interim suspension from the nursing register for at least another three months.

A provisional date of 25 November has been set for the full hearing, where Gregory faces being struck off if the charge relating to the indecent images is found proved.

Christopher Pataky, for the NMC, told the hearing: "The allegation is that on April 11, 2007, Mr Gregory received a police caution from West Mercia constabulary for possessing indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of a child.

"The registrant admitted having these seven images on his computer.

"At the relevant time, he was employed as a nurse by the army."

An earlier hearing was told how a teenage boy complained to police that Gregory had paid him to perform sex acts for him on his webcam.

Although Gregory was not charged over the boy's allegations, police found he did have child porn on his computer.

As well as being cautioned, Gregory was placed on the sex offenders' register for two years, the hearing was told.

Committee chair Tessa King said: "The panel has decided that it is necessary to continue this interim suspension order.

"We consider that an interim suspension order is necessary for the protection of the public, and is in the public interest."

Gregory did not attend the hearing today.

The Citizen