by Annette Wilson

awilson@thekmgroup.co.uk

A whistle-blowing scientist who exposed flaws in NHS cervical screening has been found not guilty of serious sexual assaults on children.

Former NHS worker Neil Woodward, of Lancaster Gardens, Beltinge, broke down in the dock after a jury cleared him of 10 charges, including rape.

It took them less than an hour to return a not guilty verdict to all counts at Canterbury Crown Court today.

Mr Woodward, 51, had told the court he was “absolutely gutted” by what had been said about him.

He also recalled how bringing to light flaws in screening programmes had cost him his job at Kent and Canterbury Hospital and nearly brought him to a nervous breakdown.

He said he started working in Kent in 1992 as a trained bio-medical scientist in cellular pathology, carrying out analysis of cells in smear and breast screening and was involved in cancer diagnosis.

He agreed he was the scientist who in 1996 brought to light flaws in cervical screening for the Kent and Canterbury Trust.

Problems in the department at the time meant women who were having smears may not have been getting a true diagnosis and outcome from their tests.

He told the jury: “After my involvement in this disclosure I was told my career in the NHS was over and I would never work in the NHS again.

“My health was affected as a result of drawing attention to these problems and I almost had a nervous breakdown and had to receive counselling for it.”
He went on to deny the allegations, saying he had never assaulted the children.

He broke down in tears after being told by Judge Adele Williams he was discharged.