Imperial College Hospital Media Manager Jailed Over Horrific Child Abuse Crimes
A civil servant linked to Imperial College Hospital has been locked up for shocking child sexual abuse offences. Richard Arcari, 37, a press officer, committed vile abuse even while on police bail.
Arrested After Police Sting
In February 2017, Metropolitan Police swooped on Arcari after intelligence revealed he had viewed horrific videos showing a man raping a boy. Officers found his iPad packed with hundreds of child abuse images and videos. Despite being arrested and released on bail, Arcari didn’t stop.
More Abuse Discovered During NCA Raids
A year later, National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators caught Arcari again, this time linked to an online chat room streaming child abuse under the alias ‘FitPrvUK’. They seized a new laptop containing hundreds more images. Arcari claimed drug-fuelled memory blackouts, blaming crystal meth for not recalling his actions.
Just 17 days after this arrest, NCA officers hit his home again. Using a new online identity, ‘TabBoy’, Arcari had been commenting on abuse videos in real time. Further devices found, including an iPhone and another laptop, held even more depraved material.
His Employer Uncovers Key Evidence
In September 2018, Defra—the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, where Arcari worked—found a mysterious USB stick during a security check. Files pointed to indecent images of children. Police swooped once more and recovered the USB plus his laptop, both loaded with child abuse content.
Massive Haul of Abuse Material
- 716 category A (most serious) images and videos
- 588 category B images and videos
- 344 category C images and videos
Arcari pleaded guilty to 22 charges, including making and possessing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornographic material, class A drug possession, and encouraging others to commit offences.
Jail Sentence and Lifetime Ban
Today at Inner London Crown Court, Arcari was jailed for 42 months. He’s now on the sex offenders register indefinitely and slapped with a sexual harm prevention order restricting his internet use.
“The evidence showed Arcari was visiting online conference rooms to watch child abuse from as long ago as November 2015,” said NCA operations manager Graham Ellis. “Even when he had been arrested and was on bail he continued to offend. Every time footage is replayed or an image reshared, that child is revictimised. There is no greater priority for us than protecting children.”
The case highlights a grim truth—offending against children is worsening in scale and severity.
