A senior doctor who played a key role in convicting baby killer nurse Lucy Letby has revealed he is training to become a Church of England priest.

Dr John Gibbs, one of the first consultants to raise alarms about Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital, retired from the NHS and later studied theology in preparation for ordination.

According to The Mirror, Dr Gibbs demanded Letby’s removal from the neonatal unit after a series of unexplained baby deaths. He later gave evidence at her trial and told a public inquiry he felt “ashamed” for not stopping her sooner.

His decision has sparked controversy among Letby supporters, who have questioned his role in the case.

Statistician Professor Richard Gill, who is campaigning for Letby’s release, criticised Dr Gibbs’ move into ministry, claiming it “beggars belief”. He told The Mirror: “My impression of Dr Gibbs is that he sees himself as a pillar of society”.

A parish newsletter showed Dr Gibbs actively serving at his local evangelical church in Chester, where he has preached sermons on medical ethics.

Letby, 35, has been serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others. Her lawyer, Mark McDonald, has continued to submit fresh evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, with new experts claiming no babies were deliberately harmed.

Dr Gibbs is yet to comment publicly.