A healthcare assistant at York Hospital, Adewale Kudabo, has been sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a female patient under his care.
Kudabo, 47, was found guilty of kissing the patient twice without her consent while she was bedridden and in pain. Prosecutors said the incidents occurred after he was assigned to assist with her hygiene needs.
The first assault happened shortly after Kudabo finished bathing the patient. Despite her limited mobility, the victim attempted to move away as he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. A few days later, he again offered to help her bathe and attempted a second kiss, which she was also unable to avoid.
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The victim later reported the incidents to police, describing the emotional toll they had taken, including anxiety and recurring flashbacks.
Kudabo, of Count De Burgh Terrace, South Bank, York, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at the start of his trial in April.
During sentencing on June 10, Judge Alex Menary told Kudabo he had “abused the trust” placed in him by the patient, emphasizing that only an immediate custodial sentence could reflect the seriousness of the offence. Kudabo is to serve half of his 12-month sentence before being eligible for release.
Defence lawyer Jerry Sodipe said Kudabo, who had no prior convictions, showed remorse and had admitted guilt. He claimed Kudabo was misguidedly trying to offer comfort to the patient but acknowledged the actions were wholly inappropriate.
Following the sentencing, the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust issued an apology:
“We offer our sincere apologies to the patient affected. Patients should always feel safe and respected in our care. We acted swiftly and the individual left our employment soon afterwards.”
