FORMER NHS Psychologist Escapes Jail After Child Grooming Scandal
— Dr. Ross Canade, once a lead psychologist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, received a 12-month suspended sentence for attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming. He also got six months suspended for trying to engage in sexual conversation with a minor. Despite these convictions, Dr. Canade remains a registered psychologist without any restrictions from the regulator.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Dr. Canade can still practice, raising alarm due to his past work with children. His sentences will only be enforced if he reoffends, leading to automatic imprisonment. The Tavistock clinic suspended and later fired him after police investigated his actions on Grindr, where he was caught by fake profiles posing as teenage boys.
Dr. Canade planned to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old boy for sex but was stopped by vigilantes known as “paedophile hunters.” These groups often conduct sting operations despite the UK government’s stance against vigilantism due to its illegal nature. However, many prosecutions of sex offenders are made possible through these efforts in practice.;