Strictly contestant Dr Ranj Singh called for more ‘help and support’ for paedophiles during a Twitter rant while working as a children’s TV presenter.
The London-based doctor, who was presenting CBeebies health show Get Well Soon at the time, made the comments during a 2013 online debate after telling a follower there is no link between paedophilia and homosexuality.
Now a presenter on ITV’s This Morning, Dr Singh, who is gay, tweeted: ‘Nobody should be persecuted for who they are’ about his sexuality.
Strictly contestant Dr Ranj Singh (pictured on Monday with Ashley Roberts) called for more ‘help and support’ for paedophiles on Twitter while working as a children’s TV presenter
Another Twitter user replied: ‘Where do we draw the line?’
Dr Singh then said: ‘Sorry, but MASSIVE difference between homosexuality and paedophilia…CONSENT being one of them. Cannot compare the two :(‘.
‘But paedophiles need help and support not persecution.’
The tweets came to light following a Sun investigation, which also found the doctor called a friend ‘nancy boy’ and said to another ‘morning you filthy s**t’.
Dr Ranj’s spokesman said the 2013 tweets were ‘in response to Russia’s extreme and violent treatment of ‘LGBT+’ people, and the inaccurate conflation of homosexuality with paedophilia’.
He added: ‘Dr Ranj made clear that homosexuality and paedophilia are not the same thing. He made reference to paedophiles needing ‘help and support’.
The London -based doctor, who was presenting CBeebies health show Get Well Soon at the time, made the comments during a 2013 online debate after telling a follower there is no link between paedophilia and homosexuality
‘As a GP, Dr Ranj respects patients and treatments and there is a clinical foundation for providing mental health treatment and other support to paedophiles. Such treatment is offered through the NHS and statutory criminal justice services.
‘Dr Ranj is clear in his view that paedophilia is horrendous, harmful, abusive and unlawful; however this does not mean that paedophiles should not receive the medical treatment they need in order to reduce their risk of harm to the community.
‘Finally, in respect of the tweets between Dr Ranj and his friend Terry Ronald, these were sent seven years ago in reference to Terry Ronald releasing an autobiography titled ‘Becoming Nancy’.’
The London -based doctor was presenting CBeebies health show Get Well Soon at the time