Nurse struck off after long campaign of sexual misconduct, targeting female members of staff.

Ben Edwards successfully represented the Nursing and Midwifery Counsel in the case of RC who faced twenty-four charges relating to serious sexual misconduct, including sexual assaults on seven colleagues and other sexual misconduct relating to those he worked with as Registered Nurse. The panel found all charges proved, finding that he had subjected Colleague A to the most serious sexual assault imaginable. The panel found that RC targeted young female colleagues in the unit he worked in, targeting female student nurses. The panel found he abused his position as a Registered Nurse, having subjected many female colleagues to unwanted, sexually motivated behaviour over a significant period of time. The Panel found that the assault on Colleague A was an “alarming escalation in his sexually motivated behaviour.” It was only after Colleague A reported RC that other colleagues came forward, reporting similar inappropriate behaviour. RC was able to get away with his inappropriate, predatory behaviour, it often being dismissed as a “joke” or “banter.” This emboldened him and enabled him to hide in “plain sight” as his behaviour escalated over time.

The panel found that his actions were both sexually motivated and amounted to harassment. The panel found the Registrant’s fitness to practise impaired, noting “there is a distinct lack of insight into how Mr C’s actions affected those around him, or his colleagues or the nursing profession. The matters found proved evidence deep-seated attitudinal problems, particularly towards younger and or junior female colleagues. There is no evidence before the panel to evidence any remorse or insight.”

In imposing a Striking Off Order, the panel stated “Mr C’s actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse and are fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register. The findings in this particular case demonstrate that Mr C’s actions were serious and dishonest, and to allow him to continue practising would undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC as a regulatory body. The panel determined that the appropriate and proportionate sanction is that of a striking-off order. The panel concluded that nothing short of this would be sufficient in this case.”

Ben was instructed by Robert Rye of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.