A cancer doctor who groomed what he thought was a teenage girl for sex online was caught after a police sting at the hotel where he intended to abuse her.
John Crooks, 54, a former surgeon at Glasgow's Stobhill Hospital and dad-of-three, thought he was messaging a 14-year-old girl on social media but was actually talking to an undercover female police officer.
The online abuse, which happened from February to March last year, included Crooks sending pictures of his penis to the girl "on various occasions."
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It is understood his computer was seized by officers at Stobhill Hospital, however the grooming took place at an address in Lenzie, in Kirkintilloch and "elsewhere."
His registration to practice as a consultant was suspended by the General Medical Council on April 26, last year.
The consultant, of Oxhill Road Dumbarton, who specialised in urology including the treatment of cancers and also worked private for Nuffield and Rosshall hospitals, was given a three-year community payback order and placed on the sex offenders register after a hearing on Wednesday at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The former surgeon from Dumbarton pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to attempting to communicate indecently with a child, and attempting to cause a child to view a sexual images by sending pictures of his penis, on various occasions between February 2018 and March 2018.
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He also admitted attempting to meet an underage girl “with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual behaviour
Twelve police witnesses gave evidence during the hearing.
The head of Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, welcomed the conviction saying: "Crooks targeted what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, grooming her online in a highly sexualised manner.
"Child sex offenders come from all walks of life, their single characteristic is that they choose to prey on and abuse children."
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the consultant. who is a graduate of the University of Glasgow, was "no longer in our employ."
DI Mark Lambley, National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Police Scotland said: "Crooks targeted what he thought was a 14 year old girl, grooming her online in a highly sexualised manner.
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"He made arrangements to meet, and was arrested when he arrived at the hotel where he had intended to sexually abuse her.
"Strict legal processes govern how police officers engage online to identify perpetrators and to protect children.
"The use of online resources is always part of a wider investigation and our priority is to protect children and reduce any risk of harm.
"Child sex offenders come from all walks of life, their single characteristic is that they choose to prey on and abuse children.
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"Offenders need to understand that they alone are responsible for their actions, that they could lose everything and that they cannot hide online.
"We welcome today’s sentence and would urge anyone who has concerns or who has been a victim of online sexual abuse to contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency."
Crooks was listed as a specialist in core urology and cancer for Glasgow's north sector in 2016.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advertised for a specialist in urology last year.
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