A doctor placed on the sex offenders' register for downloading child porn is applying to work again in Midland hospitals. John Rumbold, 34, was suspended by the General Medical Council after being convicted of the offences at Birmingham Crown Court in December 2002. But now the pervert doctor has applied to have the suspension lifted by the GMC next month - which would allow him to return to his hospital job. Last night a leading kids charity attacked the legal loophole which could see a registered sex offender working on the wards. Rumbold, of Bordesley Green, Birmingham, was suspended from the GMC's Medical Register after he was convicted of 12 charges of downloading child pornography featuring young girls. But a fresh GMC panel is set to review his suspension next month. Campaigners at Kidscape, a charity dedicated to child safety, were outraged that a registered sex offender may be allowed to work as a doctor. Director Michele Elliot said: "If downloading child pornography doesn't lead to disqualification from the medical register I don't know what does. "I certainly would not want a registered sex offender to be my doctor. I am sure most people would feel that his actions make him unsuitable to be a doctor." Rumbold, who is believed to have been working at a Birmingham hospital, was convicted of downloading images of children as young as four. He was put on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years and given a rehabilitation order. Sentencing Rumbold, Judge Derek Stanley said that images of young children being abused in such a "despicable and disgusting" fashion promoted the worldwide sexual abuse of kids. He also noted that Rumbold had demonstrated "considerable insight" into his crime. As a result of the conviction, in August 2003 the GMC stopped him from working as a doctor by suspending him for nine months. This had followed a interim suspension of more than 12 months since his arrest. At the hearing, the GMC Professional Conduct Committee stated: "The Committee considers this type of offence to be an extremely serious matter which undermines public confidence in the medical profession and damages its reputation." They heard that Rumbold started to access indecent images of children following a "family crisis" and a psychiatric report stated that his motivation was "not primarily one of sexual gratification". A report to the committee also stated experts did not believe that he posed a risk to children. The Sunday Mercury has learned that Rumbold has also been accused of giving medical advice on the internet while being banned from practising medicine. It has been claimed that he has discussed child protection issues in an online discussion about medical matters. Rumbold also has county court judgments against him for £31,682. When confronted by the Sunday Mercury, he denied breaching his suspension - and said that he still had the medical skills to help others. "I have categorically not offered medical advice while suspended," he said. "The GMC, on the basis of an evaluation by one of the top forensic psychiatrists in the country, considered my motivation voyeuristic not paedophilic. "Of course I accept what I did was wrong. It was the product of an unfortunate moment in my family life and my stupid reaction to it. "I have paid a heavy price because I love helping people through the practise of medicine. I wish to continue to use my knowledge to help others in the future." The GMC confirmed that a hearing was taking place next month to review his suspension from the medical register but refused to comment further. | 
