GP practice ‘aware’ of incident following man’s arrest on suspicion of sexual offence

A GP practice wrote to its patients to say it was ‘aware’ of an incident ‘involving a live-streamed video’ causing concern, following the arrest of a man on suspicion of engaging in sexual communications with a child. 

In a statement on social media on 16 April, Longfield Medical Centre in Maldon, Essex, said it was aware of the incident involving a video ‘circulating online’ which ‘may understandably cause concern among patients and the wider community’.

Essex Police separately confirmed to Pulse they had arrested a man ‘on suspicion of engaging in sexual communications with a child’ on 16 April in Maldon.

The practice added that they take this matter ‘extremely’ seriously and will be ‘cooperating fully’ with the police.

The GP practice said: ‘We are aware of an incident this evening involving a live-streamed video circulating online, which may understandably cause concern among our patients and the wider community. 

‘We would like to provide reassurance and clarify that the individual involved is not an employee of Longfield Medical Centre. The person is an external contractor engaged through a third-party company and has no direct affiliation with our practice team, or any contact with any of our patients.  

‘We take this matter extremely seriously and will be cooperating fully with the police and relevant authorities.’ 

An Essex Police spokesperson told Pulse: ‘Essex Police arrested a 35-year-old man from Southminster on suspicion of engaging in sexual communications with a child on Thursday 16 April in Maldon.

‘He has been released on conditional bail and our enquiries are ongoing.’