Sex assault nurse sent to prison

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A nurse who sexually assaulted a patient while she was critically ill and unconscious has been sent to jail.

Jonathan Haldane, 39, of St James Road, Highfields, used his mobile phone to record himself touching the patient.

At Leicester Crown Court, he admitted carrying out the attack at Leicester Royal Infirmary last year.

The victim Tara Jepson, who has waived her right to anonymity, only found out she had been assaulted when she was told by police.

I felt like I was watching somebody else, it still felt like it wasn't me Tara Jepson

While she was in a coma Haldane went to her bed twice, and sexually assaulted her with the curtains pulled round her bed, filming his actions on his mobile phone, the court heard.

Away from court, the judge viewed the footage.

At one stage, despite being in a coma, Ms Jepson unsuccessfully tried to move or swat Haldane's hand away.

In the second piece of footage he placed his hand over her mouth.

Haldane was arrested after e-mailing a friend a clip of the video.

'Shameful day'

Sentencing him the judge said: "Demons took control of you that day, and it's only right that you pay. Miss Jepson was completely helpless, utterly at your mercy.

"This is a shameful day, and hopefuly the sound of your cell door locking tonight will bring it home."

Outside court, Det Insp Andy Allden of Leicestershire Police said: "We had no idea who was the person in that video clip.

"What we needed to do was trawl the patient records, which we did, with the help of the hospital authorities, and we managed to identify the victim."

Ms Jepson, who has now seen the footage, said: "I felt like I was watching somebody else, it still felt like it wasn't me.

"If I'm honest, it wasn't until a few days later that it actually hit me that it was me lying there on that bed and it was happening to me."