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Former nurse pleads guilty to sexual abuse of unconscious patients (31 March 2015)

Date: 31/03/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Former nurse pleads guilty to sexual abuse of unconscious patients

A former nurse who worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford has pleaded guilty to 27 counts of rape, sexual assault and voyeurism, which took place at the hospital, a leisure centre and while at a music festival.

BBC News reports that 29-year-old Andrew Hutchinson from Abingdon in Oxfordshire raped, sexually assaulted and spied on women at the hospital when they were unconscious.

Oxford Crown Court was told Hutchinson’s victims were aged between ten and 35 – and included four women he sexually assaulted while they were unconscious in curtained off beds in A&E at the John Radcliffe Hospital, as well as at Wilderness music festival.

A jury also heard that he used a camera to spy on women and children at the White Horse Leisure Centre in Abingdon.

The court was told the offences took place between 2011 and 2013 – and Hutchinson was sacked after he was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of voyeurism offences at the leisure centre in November 2013. He was formally charged with the offences in December 2014.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Johns said the case was “complicated and unusual”, as the sexual assault victims were unconscious when the attacks took place.

“I have no doubt that Hutchinson would have continued to offend had he not been arrested,” added Det Ch Insp Johns.
The John Radcliffe Hospital is run Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Spokesman for the trust, Mark Power, said that “immediate action” to suspend Hutchinson had been taken by the trust in November 2013, after allegations of theft were made against him.

Mr Power said that trust also informed the Nursing and Midwifery Council – and he was dismissed following an investigation by the trust into the allegations against him.

Hutchinson had been given a CRB check before the trust employed him – but he was found to have a clear record.

Mr Power said staff at the John Radcliffe had been devastated by Hutchinson’s actions – but added that, despite ”robust policies and procedures to manage patients safely”, it was not possible to “ eliminate the risk of a rogue practitioner entirely”.

The hospital has since introduced changes, including making sure unconscious patients in A&E are treated in areas with “open visibility”.

Police said all traceable victims of Hutchinson had been located and given support.

Hutchinson was remanded in custody after the hearing and will be sentenced on 27 April.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Sexual and Physical Abuse Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of no win no fee personal injury solicitors, able to advise on how to claim compensation for sexual and physical abuse – including historic cases of sexual and physical abuse.

Personal injury claimants can claim compensation once a police report has been made and a conviction obtained against the perpetrator.

Claims usually have to be made within three years of a conviction being obtained – in historic cases of abuse, time limits may vary and Duncan Lewis can advise on this once a case has been assessed.

Children can claim compensation up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Sexual and Physical Abuse Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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