Location: Reading
Hearing dates: 11–12 June 2025
BPC case reference: COM11-24
Registrant: Charles French https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-french-1390a018/
Sanction: Withdrawal of Registration
Source: BPC Final Determination
https://www.bpc.org.uk/download/14634/120625-Determination-PUBLIC-Charles-French-Ftp-Hearing.pdf
Case Summary
Charles French, a BPC-registered Psychodynamic Counsellor, was found to have engaged in serious professional misconduct involving sexualised boundary breaches within the therapeutic relationship.
The BPC found proved allegations including inappropriate sexualised communications, setting up a private Telegram chat, sending topless photographs, inviting photographs, suggesting sexualised conduct in the therapy room, and video calls involving masturbation and/or sexualised conversation.
The Panel found that his fitness to practise was impaired by misconduct and imposed withdrawal of registration.
Risk Findings
The determination records:
- Patient A was vulnerable;
- harm was caused;
- the misconduct was prolonged;
- the registrant was experienced and knew his conduct was wrong;
- there was no evidence of insight, remediation, remorse, or apology;
- the misconduct involved sexual exploitation, deliberate conduct, and deep-seated attitudinal problems;
- there was a high risk of repetition.
BPC Outcome
Withdrawal of Registration
This is the BPC’s most serious registration sanction.
However, it remains a registration-based outcome.
Wider Public Protection Question
The BPC’s policies provide for referral to police and safeguarding authorities where serious harm or potential criminal conduct arises.
The determination records sexual misconduct, vulnerability, harm, and risk of repetition.
The unresolved question is:
Did the BPC consider or undertake any third-party safeguarding or police referral before or alongside removal from the register?
Determination Gap
The determination does not clearly evidence:
- police referral
- safeguarding referral
- escalation under third-party reporting procedures
Cross-Case Context
This pattern is not isolated.
- In Rushton (COM17-24), similar findings of sexual misconduct and risk of repetition were made, with no clear evidence of escalation during active jurisdiction.
- In West (COM04-22), boundary breaches were found, yet the practitioner remained in practice without evidenced safeguarding action.
SAP members have a pattern of sexploitation of their students! https://www.thesap.org.uk/events/meeting-borderland-patients-in-their-inner-void/
Systemic Significance
French demonstrates a recurring regulatory issue:
Removal from the register is used as the decided endpoint of action, but does not evidence whether wider safeguarding mechanisms were used.