Great Ormond Street children's hospital porter, 55, admits 58 sex attacks against six boys over 35 years

A Great Ormond Street children's hospital porter admitted 58 sex attacks against six boys over the course of 35 years, a court heard today.

Paul Farrell, 55, pleaded guilty to sex offences carried out between 1985 and 2020, including attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.

The charges relate to six victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who are now aged between eight and 43.

Farrell held a number of positions, including working as a porter, at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in central London between 1994 and 2020.

Wood Green Crown Court heard at least two victims claimed they were sexually abused by Farrell at the hospital.

Paul Farrell, 55, a porter at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, pleaded guilty to sex offences carried out between 1985 and 2020, including attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13

But Judge Noel Lucas said on Friday: 'The prosecution have made it clear that this is not a case where it is alleged that Mr Farrell was targeting children at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, rather that children were abused in parts of the hospital in which he had access.'

The Metropolitan Police said Farrell was first arrested on January 16 and appeared at Highbury Magistrates' Court after being charged.

But according to the charges his offending continued until June this year, with one boy under the age of 13 sexually assaulted 'during lockdown'. 

The Metropolitan Police said Farrell was first arrested on January 16 and appeared at Highbury Magistrates' Court after being charged. He appeared at Wood Green Crown Court

Farrell, of Camden, north London, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court, in north London, on Friday wearing a red jacket over a blue sweater and glasses.

The court heard he may have lured two of the children into parts of the building to which he had access before molesting them.

Judge Lucas added: ‘They were taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital and some abused on site. The prosecution have made it clear it is not suggested so far that there was targeting of children who were patients there.’

The judge said: ‘The defendant was I think a porter at Great Ormond Street.’

The prosecutor replied: ’He had a number of different positions.’ 

Farrell pleaded guilty to 33 charges, having previously admitted 25 counts at an earlier hearing. 

He admitted two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of attempted rape, three counts of making indecent images, 17 indecent assault on a male, 14 counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, five counts of causing sexual a child under 13 activity, four counts of sexual activity with a child under 13, eight counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, and three counts of causing child under 16 to engage sexual activity.

He denied 15 further sexual offences and has denied 21 charges overall including rape.

The prosecution indicated that they would not pursue the outstanding charges of rape and attempted rape after consulting the alleged victims. 

Greying and bespectacled Farrell was remanded into custody ahead of a further hearing on 5 February next year.

A representative of the world-renowned hospital sat in court alongside six police officers.