Fury as paedophile pensioner is given Viagra on the NHS - despite string of attacks on children
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 7:06 PM on 19th August 2009
Freebie: GPs can prescribe Viagra to patients suffering from conditions which may affect sexual dysfunction - including diabetes.
Child safety campaigners have reacted with horror after it emerged that a convicted paedophile pensioner is still being prescribed Viagra on the NHS.
Serial paedophile Roger Martin, 71, is st
More..ill receiving the libido-enhancing drug despite a long history of abuse resulting in his latest sex attack on an 11-year-old girl.
The sickening revelation came to light as Martin was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court for the attack in December 2008.
Widower Martin, who has a history of sex offending dating back more than 30 years, was ‘reluctantly’ spared jail because of his age and ill-health.
But Judge Nicholas Coleman highlighted Martin's continuing use of the drug as a matter of public interest and revealed there is nothing the authorities can do to stop him.
Probation officers cannot force the paedophile to stop taking Viagra if his doctor, who is reliant on the patient volunteering information about his past, continues to prescribe it.
MPs joined child safety campaigners in condemning the move and called for action to be taken to close off the dangerous practice.
Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson, Conservative shadow minister for communities and local government, was horrified to learn Martin was still allowed to take Viagra.
He said: ‘This is a bizarre and outrageous example of where common sense gets thrown out of the window in preference to so-called human rights and political correctness.
‘Someone needs to get a grip here, exercise leadership and start thinking about what's in the public interest instead of ticking boxes like a robot.
‘Young people's safety is at stake here.’
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Martin, of Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, was ordered to attend a three-year sex offenders' treatment programme and banned from having contact with children indefinitely after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
He admitted touching his 11-year-old victim inappropriately after she visited his sheltered accomodation home on December 27 to do some cleaning in exchange for pocket money.
Martin's history of sexual offences dates back to 1978 when he was convicted for having unlawful sex with a 15-year-old babysitter.
But a pre-sentence report suggested Martin, who suffers from numerous illnesses including diabetes, posed only a ‘relatively modest’ risk of re-offending.
His barrister argued he ‘wouldn't be able to cope’ with a spell behind bars and pleaded he receive treatment in the community rather than jail.
Outrage: One critic said it was 'sickening' that taxpayers' money was being spent on Viagra for a convicted child abuser
Judge Coleman said it was with ‘great hesitation’ that he spared Martin prison.
He said: ‘You appear to persist in applying for the sexually stimulating drug Viagra and you continue to be prescribed it.’
Claude Knights, director of children's charity Kidscape, said she was ‘astounded’ by the situation.
She said: ‘I am shocked that someone has been given a chemical aid to sexual activity when they are misdirecting their urges. It gives them a chance to abuse more children.
‘It does seem very surprising that someone with that kind of tendency is given medication that enhances rather than dampens it.
‘One thing we are always concerned about is how information is decompartmentalised in relation to sex offenders.
‘This is being funded by the taxpayer, we all contribute to the NHS. He is an active offender. Anything that is helping his urges should not be prescribed.
‘This is an example of no joined-up thinking going on.’
It emerged that the probation service cannot stop Martin from taking the drug, while doctors cannot take criminal convictions into account while prescribing it.
The Cambridgeshire Probation Service, which will oversee Martin, says it is powerless to interfere with the administration of prescription drugs.
Spokesman John McAngus said: ‘We could not and would not restrict the use of prescription medication, be it Viagra or anything else.
‘What we do is our utmost to help sex offenders address their offending behaviour.’
Department of Health guidelines advise GPs they can prescribe Viagra to patients suffering from a number of conditions which may affect male sexual dysfunction - including diabetes.
A spokeswoman said: ‘Patients are not required when registering with a GP to declare any criminal convictions.’
Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said he was ‘disgusted’ to learn a convicted child abuser was being given free sexually enhancing drugs.
He said: ‘It is absolutely sickening that taxpayers' money is being spent on Viagra for this evil monster.
‘The focus of the authorities should be on stopping him ever abusing anyone again, not on providing free medication that could make his offending worse.
‘Taxpayers will be appalled that their hard-earned money is being spent in a way that could well be putting more children in danger.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207722/Paedophile-attacked-11-year-old-girl-gets-Viagra-NHS--despite-previous-convictions.html#ixzz0Oey98rOZ Less..
Added: Aug 19 2009 In: news_politics
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