Nigerian Healthcare Worker, Jailed for Sexually Assaulting UK Female Patient

Adewale Kudabo, a Nigerian healthcare worker, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a UK female patient. The court handed down the sentence following a thorough investigation and trial.

According to The Press (Yorkpress.co.uk)
on Wednesday, Kudabo was working as a health care worker at York Hospital when the sexual assault offences happened, as stated by the prosecutor, Henry Fernnandez.

Judge Alex Menary said Kudabo had “abused the trust” placed in him as a medical professional.

The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs York Hospital, said it offers its “sincere apologies” to the victim, adding that Kudabo had left his job at the hospital soon after the offences.

Mr Fernnandez said Kudabo, 47, was allocated to bathe a patient who was in a lot of pain.

He said the offences did not relate to the bathing but what happened afterwards.
When finished bathing the patient, Mr Fernnandez said Kudabo leant down and kissed her on the lips.

The victim, despite being in considerable pain, was able to move away slightly but could not avoid the kiss, Mr Fernandez said.

She was “left in a state of confusion and felt uncomfortable” by the incident, he added.

Days after the incident, Mr Fernnandez said Kudabo asked the victim if she wanted another “bed bath” and again tried to kiss her.

The victim attempted to “get away”, Mr Fernnandez said, but was unable to avoid Kudabo kissing her on the lips for a second time.

He said the victim later reported the incident to police.

The Press reports that the court heard that the offences had led to the victim suffering with anxiety and experiencing flashbacks to what happened at the hospital with Kudabo.

Kudabo, of Count De Burgh Terrace in South Bank, York, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on the first day of his trial in April.

Judge Menary said the victim had “placed her trust” in Kudabo and told him: “You abused that trust.”

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He jailed Kudabo for one year on Tuesday (June 10) and said he must serve half of the sentence before he is eligible for release.

The judge said the seriousness of the offences meant only an immediate jail sentence was suitable.

Jerry Sodipe, defending, said Kudabo, who has no previous convictions, had shown remorse for his actions.

“He has held up his hands to say, yes he is guilty, he shouldn’t have done that,” the defence barrister said.

Mr Sodipe said Kudabo was “moved to sympathy” due to the pain experienced by the victim and thought he was showing her comfort by kissing her.

But Mr Sodipe said Kudabo accepted his actions were “inappropriate and unacceptable”.

Mr Sodipe said Kudabo had moved to the UK from Nigeria with his family for work but had now lost his job.

The Press reported that after the hearing, a York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere apologies to the patient affected.

“Patients should always feel safe and respected while in our care, and we deeply regret that this was not the case.

“We acted swiftly and decisively, and the individual involved left our employment soon afterwards.”