Nursing and Midwifery Council determination — voluntary removal
Voluntary removal from the register
The regulator’s term: voluntary erasure accepted
What does “voluntary removal from the register” mean?
The practitioner asked to be removed from the register and the regulator accepted the request. This may happen during or after a fitness-to-practise case.
Concerning Paul Michael Ashton, nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council 86A0099E).
Decision date: 13 March 2026
In plain English
The NMC accepted Paul Michael Ashton's application for agreed removal from the nursing register on 13 March 2026. Mr Ashton, a registered adult nurse from Sheffield, had been convicted in February 2025 of intentionally exposing his genitals, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and was sentenced to a nine-month community order. The Assistant Registrar concluded that he no longer intends to nurse, the allegation was not likely to result in striking off, and the public interest was best served by agreeing the removal.
Charges
It was alleged that Mr Ashton was convicted of an offence of intentionally exposing his genitals intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress, contrary to section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He was sentenced on 7 February 2025 and given a nine month community order. No fitness to practise allegation was substantively proved by a statutory committee.
Findings
The NMC's Assistant Registrar agreed to Mr Ashton's removal from the NMC register, having taken into account information relating to his conviction, his interests, and the public interest. The Assistant Registrar was satisfied that Mr Ashton no longer intends to work as a registered nurse, the allegations were not likely to result in a striking-off order, there were no other good reasons requiring further consideration of the allegations, and the public interest was best served by agreeing the application for removal.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Nursing and Midwifery Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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