A doctor from Suffolk has been jailed for 22 years after he admitted abusing 18 boys in his care.

The crimes of children’s doctor Myles Bradbury were described by judge Gareth Hawkesworth as “one of the worst forms of sexual abuse imaginable”.

The 41-year-old, from Herringswell in Suffolk, worked as a paediatric consultant haematologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where he carried out medical examinations on boys “purely for his own sexual gratification”, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

He filmed some of them using a spy pen and abused others behind a curtain while their parents were in the room.

He pleaded guilty to 25 offences, including sexual assault, voyeurism and possessing more than 16,000 indecent images, against boys aged between 10 and 16, and was sentenced today.

Judge Hawkesworth said Bradbury’s sentence would be reduced because of his early guilty pleas although “some might observe” that the overwhelming evidence against him meant he had little choice but to admit the offences.

Describing Bradbury as “manipulative”, he added: “For a doctor to attack children in this way is one of the worst forms of sexual abuse imaginable.”

The judge continued: “These boys were all vulnerable and gravely ill.

“In all my years on the bench, I have never come across such a grotesque betrayal of your Hippocratic oath.

“There are almost too many aggravating factors to list in your prolonged carefully, planned and cruel abuse.

“It is implicit in what you did for your own sexual gratification that you were targeting the most vulnerable, sick children.”

He added that he had no doubt Bradbury had caused “serious psychological” harm to his victims and there was a risk he would do so in future but said the doctor’s recognition of his deviancy meant the risk could be managed.

John Cameron, head of the NSPCC helpline, encouraged anybody affected by Bradbury’s crimes to seek help.

Since July, the charity’s counsellors have supported more than 54 parents and other members of the public who were concerned about the case.

He said: “At some of the lowest points in their lives, countless families placed their trust and hope in Bradbury.

“His sexual abuse and perverted voyeurism of extremely vulnerable children was a grotesque betrayal of that trust.”

The NSPCC helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.

Dr Keith McNeil, chief executive of the Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, said: “Our thoughts today are with our patients and families who were victims of Bradbury’s shocking and cynical abuse.

“Today’s sentencing of Bradbury cannot undo the damage he caused but he is finally behind bars and is no longer a risk to vulnerable children.

“The lengthy sentence shows Bradbury’s abhorrent betrayal and manipulation of his position as a doctor has been fully recognised.”