Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS orders Michael Hollingworth struck off over indecent images
The HCPTS panel found misconduct involving five indecent images of children and ordered striking off. It removed an unsupported allegation of uploading the images.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 29 May 2026 · Updated 22 September 2026
Erasure (struck off the register)
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What does “struck off the register” mean?
The regulator directed removal from the register in this decision. The decision explains when the direction takes effect and any appeal provisions. Check the official register for the practitioner's current registration status.
Concerning Michael Hollingworth, occupational therapist (Health and Care Professions Council OT086275).
Decision date: 29 May 2026 · Hearing started 28 May 2026 and ended 29 May 2026
In plain English
The HCPTS panel ordered Michael Hollingworth to be struck off after finding that he accessed or possessed five indecent images of children. An allegation of uploading images was removed because there was no supporting evidence. The panel found misconduct, current impairment and a risk of repetition. It proceeded on the underlying conduct rather than a conviction ground because the criminal case ended in a conditional discharge. A separate interim suspension covers the appeal period and any appeal.
Charges
The amended allegation concerned accessing or possessing one Category B and four Category C indecent images of children before December 2022. An allegation of uploading images to the internet was removed because there was no supporting evidence.
Findings
The panel proved the amended factual allegation and found misconduct and impairment on personal and public grounds. The criminal proceedings had ended in a conditional discharge, so the HCPC proceeded on misconduct based on the underlying facts rather than conviction as a statutory ground. The panel found no evidence of meaningful insight or remediation and a continuing risk of repetition. It ordered striking off, with a separate interim suspension pending appeal for a maximum of 18 months. Uploading images was not established.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Health and Care Professions Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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