A disgraced children's doctor was chased through a hospital by a self-professed 'paedo hunter' after arranging to meet an underage boy for sex.

Intensive care paediatrician Salman Siddiqi - who was allowed to treat youngsters at Margate's QEQM despite a previous caution for flashing - was arrested at the site on Sunday morning following a sting by the amateur detective.

The anonymous 'hunter' - who works alone - had pretended to be a 14-year-old boy and arranged to meet the consultant at his lodgings in the hospital grounds.

Siddiqi, 44, of Globe Road in Hornchurch, had sent naked pictures of himself ahead of the 3am encounter and was expecting the pair to engage in sexual activity.

But when he was instead confronted outside the accommodation by a 49-year-old man, he turned and ran into the hospital's A&E department.

The 'paedo hunter' gave chase while calling police, following Siddiqi through a number of doors he was opening using a security card.

Siddiqi was eventually detained by staff and arrested when officers arrived at the hospital, before being swiftly charged and hauled in front of Folkestone magistrates yesterday.

He admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to arrange or facilitate a meeting with a child for sexual offences.

KentOnline has seen the chat logs that show Siddiqi wanted to meet the "underage boy", despite being asked a number of times: "You definitely OK with me being 14?"

The disgraced medic - who claimed to be 32 in the messages on the Grindr dating app - subsequently made it clear he was happy to engage in sexual activity with the "teen".

He also sent explicit pictures of himself, detailed what they would do when they met up and boasted about being "an educated, civilised fella".

"I am living in hospital accommodation, mate," he added. "I will take you with me once you're here at the main reception desk."

Siddiqi was previously cautioned by police for flashing his genitals to passers-by in broad daylight in a London nature reserve in 2019.

Until officers arrived at the scene in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Siddiqi was held in a citizens' arrest by onlookers.

He was suspended for a month during a hearing in 2021, after keeping the incident a secret from GMC officials for almost two years.

The anonymous hunter, who says he has helped secure more than 100 convictions in nine years, says Siddiqi should never have been working in a hospital, let alone with children.

"I'm hoping the NHS is going to look into how he was recruited despite what he has done," he said.

"How on earth can someone with a caution for a sexual offence be allowed to work with children?

"If that was you or me who got caught flashing we wouldn't be able to get another job, yet alone on a children's ward. It's unbelievable.

"If you were the parent of one of the children he was treating you'd be disgusted. I imagine there'll be many complaints and someone needs to be held accountable."

A spokeswoman for East Kent Hospitals Trust, which runs the QEQM, said it was unable to comment on the case ahead of Siddiqi being sentenced.

However, she did confirm Siddiqi has been employed through an agency to fill shifts as a locum paediatric doctor, and that the relevant regulatory bodies, including the General Medical Council, had been informed.

"If that was you or me who got caught flashing we wouldn't be able to get another job, yet alone on a children's ward. It's unbelievable..."

The 'hunter' says he does not do what he does for fame, but to catch child abusers who might slip through the net.

"I don't have social media or post videos of stings online or anything like that," he added.

"I do this to get men like Siddiqi off the streets.

"I'm glad his conviction shows the system is working, and hope it encourages online platforms to install better safeguarding controls to prevent it happening to others."

Following the hearing on Monday, Siddiqi was remanded in custody while probation reports are carried out ahead of sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court at a later date.