8th Dec 2025
Dr Nathaniel Spencer due to appear at North Staffordshire Magistrates Court in January 2026
Dr Nathaniel John Spencer was employed from August 2017 to August 2020 as a resident doctor at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent, a hospital run by the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust. He then worked on placement from August 2020 until April 2021 at the Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley run by The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.
However, following a complicated investigation by the Public Protection Unit of Staffordshire Police, the former doctor, has been charged with serious sexual offences allegedly committed whilst he worked at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, and Russells Hall Hospital. It is alleged the offences took place between 2017 and 2021 and involved 38 patients.
The Charges are serious and include 15 counts of sexual assault, 17 counts of assault by penetration, nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of assault a child under 13 by penetration and one count of attempted assault by penetration.
38 year old Spencer from Quinton in Birmingham, has been suspended from medical practice in the UK while awaiting the outcome of the investigation and court proceedings. He will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 20 January 2026.
It remains to be seen whether Dr Spencer will be convicted of any criminal charges [and the CPS has advised against idle speculation].
Unfortunately, charges against practising doctors are not a new scandal.
Sexual misconduct by doctors is becoming increasingly recognised as a serious, systemic issue. Hierarchy, power imbalance and abuse of vulnerable individuals facilitate and contribute to the problem. Trust in doctors is essential and in the course of proper medical treatment doctors are often allowed to undertake what would otherwise be intimate examinations of patients who may be sedated or under anaesthesia and quite incapable or realising or stopping a sexual assault. Sexual misconduct is a significant breach of that trust.
There have been notable examples of the breach of patient / doctor trust as a consequence of sexual abuse of patients.
Dr Myles Bradbury, from Suffolk, admitted 25 offences involving the abuse of 18 children in his care at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, between 2009 and 2013. The offences included sexual assault, voyeurism and possessing more than 16,000 indecent images. The sentencing Judge told him his offences were a "gross and grotesque breach of trust", and the paedophile doctor was sentenced to 22 years in jail.
Experienced sexual abuse solicitor Samantha Robson has acted for numerous victims of Dr Bradbury. She has secured 6 figure awards for some of her Dr Bradbury victims, all of whom were children and patients of the paediatric haematologist. Speaking recently, Samantha restated the need for specialised legal advice from those who regularly practise in this complicated field.
Dr Stan, a doctor at Treliske Hospital in Cornwall, who worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospital between 2015 and 2020, was struck off in 2024 after being found guilty of misconduct by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. The tribunal concluded he had ‘preyed’ on male patients for his own ‘sexual gratification’. A number of the victims were minors. Robert Shaw is representing patients of Dr Stan and is currently negotiating settlements.
In 2020, a GP was given three life sentences for 90 sexual assaults on female patients. Manish Shah assaulted 23 women and a 15-year-old girl while working in London - carrying out invasive examinations for his own gratification. Shah, from Romford, convinced his victims to have unnecessary checks between May 2009 and June 2013.
If you or anyone you know has been the victim of a sexual assault by a Health Professional, please contact either Samantha Robson or Robert Shaw for a free, confidential and no obligation discussion on 01392 345333, or email [email protected]
Category: News Updates