A healthcare support worker convicted of sexually assaulting two vulnerable patients during bogus medical exams faces a steeper punishment after judges extended his prison sentence to 12 years.
Details of the Offenses
The assaults occurred at Grange Hospital in Cwmbran in August 2021. The worker targeted women in pain, including one recovering from recent surgery. He performed fake examinations without wearing gloves in some instances, leading to convictions on six counts of sexual assault and three counts of assault by penetration.
Impact on Victims
Court proceedings revealed profound trauma for the victims. One woman attempted suicide three times, while the other received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Appeal Hearing and Ruling
During the appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice, Nadeem Holland, representing the Solicitor General, highlighted aggravating factors and the severe breach of trust inherent in the crimes. Defense counsel Marian Lewis argued the offenses were opportunistic rather than premeditated, asserting the original trial judge was best positioned to determine the sentence.
Lord Justice Singh deemed the initial nine-year term unduly lenient, stating: “The overall sentence did have to reflect the gravity of the offending as a whole.”
Judges imposed a new 12-year sentence, comprising consecutive seven-year and five-year terms for the assaults on each victim. The offender appeared via video link from HMP Parc in Bridgend but offered no comments to the court.
