NHS trainee lied to sexually assault woman – court

A trainee healthcare worker "screamed" at a porter who had tried to come into a room where he was touching a female patient inappropriately, a court has heard.

Cardiff Crown Court also heard that Ieuan Crump, 26, had "lied" to the patient about her urine levels before allegedly sexually assaulting her.

Mr Crump, of Gilfach, Caerphilly county, is alleged to have inappropriately touched two patients at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran, Torfaen in August 2021.

He denies nine counts of sexual assault, including three allegations of assault by penetration.

Giving evidence via video link, the woman said she had not seen or known the other alleged victim while on the ward.

The woman said Mr Crump performed bladder scans on her twice, touching her vagina both times.

On the second occasion, she said he had also inappropriately touched her bottom, as well as her breasts, after asking if there was a possibility she was pregnant.

She also said a porter had tried to come in but Mr Crump "screamed at him and told him to get out".

The woman said Mr Crump touched her vagina for around 10 minutes during the second examination, which she queried.

"He said it was procedure," she said.

"He said you're meant to have a full body examination... it was normal, that he did it to everyone."

She told the court that Mr Crump had worn gloves during the first examination, but not the second.

The woman was also asked about an incident before the first examination where she felt pain after Mr Crump attempted to turn her on the bed.

"I screamed out when he rotated my hip," she said, adding that the other nurse had then come into the room.

On cross-examination by the court about her police statement, whereby the woman stated the female nurse and Mr Crump were together in the room, she said the nurse had been there at the beginning but that only Mr Crump was present when the bladder scan was done.

"And he put a sign on the door saying no entry," she added.

The first bladder scan was recorded on the patient's notes at 13:25 BST that day by Mr Crump.

But the woman said another nurse later told her Mr Crump had "lied" on those notes, recording a higher level of urine than was actually the case.

The alleged victim had a conversation with the same nurse after the second alleged incident of inappropriate touching.

"As soon as I mentioned it to the nurses, they phoned the police," she said.

She added the nurse responded by saying to her: "If he'd done that to my kids I'd hunt him down."

A note dated 14 August 2021 was signed by the woman, in which a member of staff detailed the complainant's account of what had happened.

She added that she spoke to her grandmother, mother and sister during that day, and told them about the bladder scans, but had not gone "into full detail" about the incidents at the time.

Mr Crump denies the charges, and the trial continues.