An ex-surgeon who carried out ‘unsanitary’ surgeries on vulnerable children as part of his private mobile circumcision service has been locked up. Dr Mohammad Siddiqui, from Birmingham, carried out multiple ‘at-home circumcisions’ on children up to the age of 14.
The 59-year-old sourced anaesthetic he needed for the non-therapeutic surgeries from work before travelling across the UK for his appointment-only service. But he ignored basic hygiene rules and showed a ‘complete disregard’ for the health, safety and comfort of his young patients.
Siddiqui previously admitted a total of 25 offences which included, 12 counts of actual bodily harm, five counts of cruelty to a child and eight counts of administering prescription only medicines. He was jailed for 67 months at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, January 15.
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Siddiqui provided his mobile service while working as clinical fellow in paediatric surgery at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust between June 2012 and November 2013. Due to his role, he was able to get hold of anaesthetic Bupivacaine Hydrochloride – a prescription only medication.
The convict was struck off the General Medical Council register in 2015 after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel found that he was guilty of ‘failures in performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions in the homes of four babies’, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. But he continued to carry out the circumcisions in ‘unsafe, unsanitary and harmful ways’.
This was possible because non-therapeutic male circumcision is unregulated and is not required to be carried out by a medical practitioner. The defendant will also be subject to a five-year serious crime prevention order.
It means he cannot undertake any non-therapeutic circumcision following his release from custody. Anja Hohmeyer, specialist prosecutor at the CPS, said: “Siddiqui practised these circumcising acts in an unsafe and unsanitary environment and left children with emotional and physical scars as a result of his actions.
“He showed a complete disregard for the impact of his actions on his victims, families, and communities. The delays Siddiqui has caused to disrupt and elongate court proceedings whilst ultimately undertaking his own defence also need to be recognised.
“His actions throughout the court process have caused significant further disruption and distress to his victims and their families, alongside significant additional legal costs due to the length of the delays he has caused. We hope that this conviction offers draws a line for all of those affected and brings some comfort to them in seeing Siddiqui being brought to justice.
“The CPS is committed to working with law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice who wish to do harm.” Police staff investigator Damon Kennard, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, was the officer in the case.
He said: “This was a highly unusual case for police to become involved in. I was concerned at Siddiqui’s apparent lack of insight and willingness to take action to remediate clinical failings highlighted to him by the General Medical Council that would have ensured the correct procedures were performed.
“He appeared entirely indifferent to the risk and suffering he was subjecting children to and in so doing betrayed the trust parents had placed in him to conduct a safe and sanitary circumcision. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many police forces across the UK who assisted with this investigation and above all the families and victims who remained supportive despite the protracted nature of the prosecution.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona Bitters, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, added: “This has been a complex investigation driven by the desire to secure justice for and safeguard children. Our investigation related to Siddiqui’s criminal actions whilst undertaking circumcision procedures and was not concerned with the practice of circumcision itself.
“I hope today’s sentence, which is significant, helps to bring some comfort to his victims and their families who have had to wait many years to see justice served for his actions. The circumstances of this case are unusual and novel.
“They have raised a number of concerns about non-therapeutic male circumcision, which will need to be addressed as part of the ongoing need to safeguard children. I sincerely hope that today’s sentencing helps to prevent children from coming to harm in this way again.”