Ex-Great Ormond Street Hospital porter given life sentence for abusing boys
Paul Farrell was given a life sentence after admitting sexual offences against young boys.
A man who worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital has been given a life sentence after admitting a string of sexual offences against young boys.
Paul Farrell admitted 69 offences against eight victims during a 35-year campaign of abuse.
The 55-year-old was a porter at the central London children’s hospital between 1994 and 2020 and although he used an area of the hospital for abuse he did not target patients.
Farrell befriended the parents of his victims and acted as a babysitter in order to abuse their children at addresses across the capital.
The crimes have been described as “multi-incident” by the prosecution and amount to at least 500 instances of abuse, although prosecutors said the true figure is “likely to be in the thousands”.
At least 18 years behind bars for ex-hospital porter
Judge Noel Lucas QC handed Paul Farrell a life sentence at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, telling him he must serve at least 18 years.
The judge told Porter he had a “deep-seated fixation with sexual activity with very young boys” and that his victims “continue to carry the scars of what you did to them”.
“It is difficult to fully comprehend the fear, confusion and vulnerabilities your young victims must have suffered as you repeatedly used and abused them to satisfy your sexual desires,” the judge said.
“On the facts opened to me, I find for the whole of your adult life you have pursued your predatory interest in committing intimate sexual acts with very young boys with an all-consuming determination, irrespective of their attempts to make you desist.
“You have gone about your predatory interest in sexual activity with young boys with a great deal of cunning and planning. You are clever.”
Farrell had kept a diary of threats and bribes for one of his victims, who was aged 12 when the abuse began, and even hid a camera in the boy’s room as a way of manipulating him not to tell anyone about the attacks.
Response from Great Ormond Street Hospital
A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokesman said: “The hearings last week have shown the devastating impact of these terrible crimes and our thoughts remain with the brave victims and their families whose stories have been shared in court.
“The sentence passed today speaks to the dreadful nature of the offences, which have led to so much suffering for so many people.
“While we have heard in court that Paul Farrell did not target children at GOSH, his association with our hospital is distressing for the hospital community. We are deeply sorry that he was able to exploit his position and use our hospital to commit some of his crimes.
“Our safeguarding practices will remain rigorous and under regular review and we are actively considering whether anything more can be done to prevent crimes like this.
“Although sentence has been passed, we are keeping open the helpline we have set up with the NSPCC for anyone who has concerns relating to the case, on 0800 101 996 or through the email help@nspcc.org.uk.”