Former doctor jailed for abusing girls at hospital

A former children's doctor has been jailed for 18 years for indecently assaulting girls at the same hospital where Jimmy Savile abused patients.

79-year-old Michael Salmon was convicted of nine indecent assaults and two rapes carried out against six girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital between 1973 and 1988.

Salmon was sentenced to 18 years behind bars for raping a 16-year-old in his bedroom after claiming to carry out an abortion on her.

The judge at Reading Crown Court sentenced him to 14 years for the second rape charge, to run concurrently, and two years behind bars for each of the nine counts of indecent assault.

Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Thames and Chiltern said: “Michael Salmon has been convicted today of offences which are particularly shocking due to the abuse of his position as a doctor taking advantage of the female patients in his care.

"His crimes were extremely traumatic for his victims who should have expected his support rather than this gross betrayal of their trust.

“Michael Salmon used his status to molest these vulnerable young girls and women who felt unable to complain as he was a doctor, and many of whom only bravely came forward after seeing other cases in the media.

"I hope they now feel that justice has been done.”

A former children's doctor has been found guilty of indecently assaulting young girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital was a "prolific sexual offender".

Designated Investigator Emma Barlow said: “I would like to thank all the witnesses for having the courage to come forward, face their abuser and tell the court what happened to them many years ago when they were child patients of Salmon.

“I would like to also thank the strength of the women who were the witnesses from an earlier conviction of Salmon in 1990.

They gave evidence to the court this time for matters they thought had been put to rest 25 years ago.”

Det Sgt Malcolm Wheeler from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: “Salmon was a prolific sexual offender who abused his position of power in order for his own sexual gratification.

“As a consultant paediatrician, he preyed on young girls who had been referred to him for a variety of health issues.

They trusted him, they believed him, because he was a doctor and they thought he was trustworthy.

“They have had to live with his actions their entire lives and it is only because of their bravery that Salmon now faces a long time behind bars."

The offences relate to six female victims and were committed between 1973 and 1988.

The victims, who were aged between 12 and 18, had all been referred to Salmon, who was a consultant paediatrician at various hospitals in the Aylesbury area.

The court heard how many of them had felt “uncomfortable” when being examined by Salmon, but believed that he was trustworthy because he was a doctor.

In one case, he took a 16-year-old girl to his home and raped her.

The court heard how following the assault, he dropped her off at a bus stop to make her own way home.

Others reported having to kiss Salmon goodbye whenever they finished an appointment with him.

Four victims initially came forward and Salmon was arrested and charged in November 2013.

A former children's doctor has been found guilty of indecently assaulting young girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at the same time Jimmy Savile was abusing patients on the wards.

Michael Salmon, 80, was convicted at Reading Crown Court of indecently assaulting girls at the Buckinghamshire hospital and was also convicted of raping a girl at his home after she turned to him for help over a possible pregnancy.

Salmon carried out many of his attacks behind a screen in his consulting room, while his victim's parents waited believing he was completing a medical examination.

A jury found him guilty of nine indecent assaults and two rapes carried out against six girls aged 11 to 18, between 1973 and 1988.

Although he worked at Stoke Mandeville at the same time Jimmy Savile is thought to have abused patients at the hospital, there is no suggestion of any link between the two.

Former children's doctor Michael Salmon was today found guilty at Reading Crown Court of indecently assaulting young girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at the same time Jimmy Savile was abusing patients on the wards.