Former Isle of Wight Paramedic Struck Off Register After Child Pornography Conviction

Timothy J Ross, known as Tim, has been struck off the medical register after being convicted of making indecent photographs of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image. The Health & Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) ruled that his fitness to practice is impaired by his conviction, citing public protection concerns.

Ross served with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service from 1997, later becoming a flying paramedic with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance for four years. He then worked for South Central Ambulance Service and spent time in Queensland, Australia. He was known for his fundraising efforts with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, his connections with a local sailing training company and lifeboat station, and his work at Solent Middle School, Cowes.

In August 2022, at Bournemouth Crown Court, Ross was convicted of three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images depicting sexual acts with animals. He was sentenced in September to a two-year community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and required to register as a sex offender for five years.

The tribunal hearing, held virtually on Tuesday, heard that police received information indicating Ross's interest in young boys. His home was searched, and computer equipment was seized. Ross refused to comment during the police interview but claimed he didn't know how the images – of boys aged 6 to 10 – ended up on his devices. He also denied having seen them before.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) was notified of the situation on February 14, 2019. Ross informed the HCPC on April 25 that he planned to retire on May 7, with no intention of working as a paramedic again. He was charged with the offenses on June 14, 2019, pleaded guilty on August 8, and was ultimately sentenced on September 20.

The HCPTS Panel concluded that Ross's fitness to practice as a paramedic was, and remains, impaired on public protection grounds. They deemed the case a gross abuse of trust involving the exploitation of children and decided to strike him off the medical register. On December 7, 2019, Ross was barred from the Children's List and the Adult's List by the Disclosure and Barring Service.