Judges extend prison term for rogue surgeon

Ian Paterson, who left victims scarred and disfigured, watched via video-link from prison as Court of Appeal judges in London declared that a “just” sentence of 20 years should replace the “unduly lenient” 15 years which he was given originally in May.

Although the decision was welcomed, a number of victims feel the criminal proceedings are just one part of the process.

Debbie Douglas, 58, from Birmingham, said: “Today, I feel some relief, but I feel like now we owe it to the other victims to get a full public inquiry.”

She said there were still many questions to be answered about how Paterson was allowed to keep operating, despite warnings.

Paterson, 59, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was convicted by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding against 10 private patients.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mrs Justice Carr and Mr Justice Goss, said yesterday: “Both the harm and culpability here were exceptionally high.”

Paterson’s trial heard from nine women and one man who were treated in the private sector at Little Aston and Parkway Hospitals in the West Midlands between 1997 and 2011.

Victims told the court that his crimes had left them in constant pain and struggling to trust medical professionals.

Lady Justice Hallett said: “How any doctor, let alone one who had earned an enviable reputation, could have engaged in this level of offending we will never know.”

Solicitor General Robert Buckland, who referred the case for review, said afterwards: “Throughout our lives we are told and expected to trust doctors. Paterson woefully abused that trust – he deliberately preyed on people’s worst fears and then mutilated them on the operating table.

“This is a truly sickening crime and my thoughts are with the victims and their families. I hope the increased sentence will help bring some closure for them.”

Asked if 20 years was enough, Mr Buckland said: “I don’t think any term of imprisonment can ever be enough to fully reflect what happened to the victims in this case but I do think that a high degree of justice has been done.”

Diane Green, another of Paterson’s victims said: “I lost everything – my home, my job, my marriage – as a result of what that man did.

“It is encouraging to see the Court of Appeal listening to victims like me and extending the sentence to 20 years.”

The NHS has already paid out millions after settling the cases of more than 250 patients.

Hundreds more are seeking compensation from a private healthcare provider in a civil court case to be heard in October.