Cambridge student doctor jailed for sex offences

A former Cambridge University medical student has been given a prison sentence of four years and eight months after admitting a series of sexual offences related to children.

Lorcan Elliott, 25, from Orton Southgate, Peterborough, who was also a former semi-professional esports coach, admitted to 22 offences and having 604 indecent images of children.

Two academics from Cambridge University gave him character references.

Judge Philip Grey, who handed down the sentence at Cambridge Crown Court, said Elliott was guilty of the kind of "foul online behaviour" parents feared.

Elliott admitted to making and distributing indecent images of children, having sexual communication with children and inciting children to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Samantha Marsh told the judge the offences had been committed between January 2022 and May 2023.

Ms Marsh said the police began an investigation after they were alerted to an online image.

She indicated there were more than 15 victims, aged between 13 and 15, whom the police had traced.

Ms Marsh said Elliott had described himself as a "sugar daddy".

She said he had offered between £200 and £800, based on children's "sexual limits", but there was no evidence that money had been exchanged.

"You were on the verge of qualifying as a doctor when these offences were uncovered," the judge told the sentencing hearing.

“It is, however, plain that someone who was so demonstrably unable to control their sexual urges towards children could never be considered fit to practise as a doctor."

He added: "What you did is the sort of foul online behaviour that causes parents the world over to fear what their children are being exposed to online.

"No parent really knows what their child is doing online. You, and other sexual predators like you, know that and take advantage."

Elliott put his head in his hands and cried as he was sentenced.

He has also been added to the sex offender register.

Judge Grey said it was clear, in many cases Elliott, was chatting with an individual boy in a bedroom within the environment of their family home.

"Your victims ranged in age from 15 down to 13," said the judge.

"It would have been completely evident to you from the faces of those boys and their state of physical development that they were children."

The judge said he accepted that Elliott was "remorseful" but said the offences were "extremely grave".

Solicitor, Henry Oghoetuoma, told the judge Elliott was "sincerely sorry" and knew it was not "a victimless crime".

"He has admitted offending because he realises that what he did was wrong," Mr Oghoetuoma told the judge.

"It is reality that he has busted his medical career."

He added Elliott had been on a number of courses to address his behaviour and had sought counselling.

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