A sexual health doctor has been sentenced to six years in prison after sexually assaulting and secretly recording his patients. Dr. Timothy Girling, 55, from West Molesey, Surrey, exploited his role at a medical centre in Bournemouth, carrying out intimate examinations that went well beyond clinical necessity.
During one appointment, Girling inappropriately touched a patient’s genitals without consent. The patient, believing this was part of a standard medical procedure, trusted Girling’s professionalism. At a subsequent visit, the same patient noticed an iPhone partially concealed in the doctor’s pocket and heard a phone start recording. Upon confrontation, Girling fled, but was later apprehended nearby.
Further investigation uncovered two additional patients who had been sexually assaulted, one of whom was also secretly filmed. Examining Girling’s devices revealed multiple intimate images and recordings of patients, including covert footage from a residential bathroom and indecent images of children. The investigation also found that Girling had encouraged a patient to send him explicit images via email.
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Following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, Girling was convicted of three counts of sexual assault, six charges of voyeurism, one attempted voyeurism charge, and pleaded guilty to three offences of possessing indecent images of children.
Detective Constable Kit Little of Dorset Police praised the courage of the victims for coming forward. “Girling exploited the trust placed in him as a medical professional to commit these serious offences. Our team worked tirelessly to identify victims and build this case,” he said.
Lucy Paddick from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasized the betrayal of trust inherent in Girling’s actions. “He manipulated vulnerable patients during clinical appointments, a space that should have been safe. These convictions send a strong message that such abuse will be thoroughly prosecuted.”
Dorset HealthCare has established a dedicated helpline at 01305 363075 for anyone treated by Dr. Girling to express concerns or seek support.