Sex assault NHS worker has sentence increased

A healthcare support worker who sexually assaulted two patients in hospital during fake examinations has had his jail sentence increased by a third.

Ieuan Crump, 28, from Gilfach near Bargoed, Caerphilly county, was jailed for nine years in December, but the case was sent to the Attorney General for the sentence to be reconsidered.

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday was asked to consider the serious breach of trust involved and aggravating features.

It ruled that the sentence should increase to 12 years as the original term "did not reflect the gravity of the offending".

Crump was working as healthcare support worker when he assaulted the patients at the Grange Hospital, Cwmbran, in August 2021.

He sexually assaulted them while carrying out fake examinations while the women lay in pain.

One had just had surgery, and during some assaults he did not wear gloves.

At trial last year, Crump was found guilty of six counts of sexual assault and three of assault by penetration.

During sentencing, the court heard Crump's crimes had left a devastating effect on his victims.

One revealed she tried to take her life three times and the other said she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

At the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday, Nadeem Holland,for the Solicitor General, said the trial judge did not take into consideration aggravating features and the serious breach of trust involved in the offences.

Marian Lewis, defending, said the judge who oversaw the trial was best placed to decide the sentence and that Crump's crimes were "opportunistic" rather than targeted.

After consideration, Lord Justice Singh told the court the nine-year sentence was unduly lenient.

He said: "The overall sentence did have to reflect the gravity of the offending as a whole."

A new sentence of 12 years was imposed, made up of consecutive terms of seven years for assaults on the first victim and five for the second victim.

Crump appeared via video link from HMP Parc in Bridgend but did not address the court.