Former Birmingham NHS surgeon jailed for child cruelty offences during operations on children and babies

Mohammad Siddiqui, from Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court in October last year to 25 offences. 

Between June 2012 and November 2013, Siddiqui provided a private mobile circumcision service whilst working as a clinical fellow in paediatric surgery at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

In this capacity, he was able to source the anaesthetic Bupivacaine Hydrochloride - a numbing injection - which is a prescription-only medicine. 

In 2015 the 58-year-old was struck off the General Medical Council register after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel found him guilty of failures in performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions in the homes of four babies.

Non-therapeutic male circumcision refers to the removal of the foreskin of male babies and young children for religious or cultural reasons, rather than medical reasons.

Despite having been struck off, the Dr Siddiqui continued to promote and provide a mobile circumcision service. 

He was able to do so due to non-therapeutic male circumcision being unregulated, and comes with no requirement to be carried out by a medical practitioner. 

He continued to use Bupivacaine Hydrochloride and carry out circumcisions in 'unsafe, unsanitary and harmful' ways. 

Siddiqui advertised his services across the country and, by appointment, performed non-therapeutic male circumcisions on young patients up to the age of 14 in their homes.

Siddiqui  was charged with 11 counts of actual bodily harm, 6 counts of cruelty to a child and 8 counts of administering prescription only medicines contrary to the law. 

The prosecution was brought because of the methods Siddiqui used which showed a 'complete disregard to patient health, safety and comfort in private residences' between 2014 and 2018.

He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court having admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, child cruelty and administering a prescription only medicine to several young and vulnerable patients whilst ignoring basic hygiene rules and performing non-therapeutic male circumcision.

A serious organised crime prevention order was granted after being sought by the Crown Prosecution Service, which would prevent Dr Siddiqui from undertaking non-therapeutic circumcision following his release from custody. 

Without such an order or any license provision he could continue to engage in these activities. 

Anja Hohmeyer of the Crown Prosecution Service 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 Dr 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”.

Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona Bitters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “This has been a complex investigation driven by the desire to secure justice for and safeguard children. 

"Despite Siddiqui’s endeavours to de-rail proceedings, his pleas mid-trial demonstrates the strength of the case that we had brought to the court with evidence relating to a number of victims having already been presented. 

"We share the frustration of the Crown Prosecution Service relating to the delays that Siddiqui caused to the court process that prevented us from presenting our case a number of years ago.

“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”.