Mohammad Siddiqui pleaded guilty to a total of 25 offences, including 12 counts of actual bodily harm, five counts of cruelty to a child and eight counts of administering prescription-only medicines contrary to the law.
The 58-year-old was a practising doctor at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust when he began providing a mobile circumcision service between June 2012 and November 2013.
After being suspended and struck off the General Medical Council Register in 2015, he continued to perform at-home circumcisions on “vulnerable children”.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that the majority of Siddiqui’s crimes took place within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, however, some took place in Thames Valley and the West Midlands.
Siddiqui’s actions showed “a complete disregard to patient health, safety and comfort in private residences”, with the procedures being carried out in “unsafe, unsanitary and harmful ways”, the CPS said.
Despite having been struck off, Siddiqui continued to promote and provide a mobile circumcision service as non-therapeutic male circumcision is unregulated with no requirement to be carried out by a medical practitioner.
He advertised his services across the UK and, by appointment, performed non-therapeutic male circumcisions on young patients up to the age of 14 in their homes.
After pleading guilty to the offences in October 2024 at Southwark Crown Court, Siddiqui was today jailed for 67 months – over five and a half years.
As well as being sentenced to 67 months in prison at Inner London Crown Court today, January 15, the former surgeon has also been handed a serious organised crime prevention order, which would prevent him from undertaking non-therapeutic circumcision following his release from custody.
Anja Hohmeyer from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Siddiqui practised these circumcising acts in an unsafe and unsanitary environment and left children with emotional and physical scars as a result of his actions.
“He showed a complete disregard for the impact of his actions on his victims, families, and communities.”
She added: “We hope that this conviction draws a line for all of those affected and brings some comfort to them in seeing Siddiqui being brought to justice.
“The CPS is committed to working with law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice who wish to do harm”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona Bitters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “This has been a complex investigation driven by the desire to secure justice for and safeguard children.
“Despite Siddiqui’s endeavours to de-rail proceedings, his pleas mid-trial demonstrates the strength of the case that we had brought to the court with evidence relating to a number of victims having already been presented.
“We share the frustration of the Crown Prosecution Service relating to the delays that Siddiqui caused to the court process that prevented us from presenting our case a number of years ago.
“Our investigation related to Siddiqui’s criminal actions whilst undertaking circumcision procedures and was not concerned with the practice of circumcision itself.
“I hope today’s sentence, which is significant, helps to bring some comfort to his victims and their families who have had to wait many years to see justice served for his actions.
“The circumstances of this case are unusual and novel. They have raised a number of concerns about non-therapeutic male circumcision, which will need to be addressed as part of the ongoing need to safeguard children.
“I sincerely hope that today’s sentencing helps to prevent children from coming to harm in this way again”.