Ex-nurse denies mental health patient sex charges

A former nurse who was extradited from Barbados has denied having unlawful sexual activity in the 2000s with a woman being treated for a mental disorder.

Jason Forde, 56, pleaded not guilty to having sexual intercourse with the woman at a mental health unit on the site of Homerton Hospital in Hackney.

He also denied charges alleging that he engaged the woman in other sexual activity while she was in his care in the east London borough.

Appearing via video link, Forde denied eight counts at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Judge Emma Deacon KC set a trial date for April 26 2027 with a time estimate of four days.

The unit was part of the East London and City Mental Health Trust and is now part of the East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Prosecution barrister Paul Fairley told the court it had taken "many, many years to achieve" the extradition from Barbados, with Forde arriving at Heathrow Airport earlier this summer.

Forde denied one count of having sexual intercourse with a woman who was "a mental defective" contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and one count of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a patient contrary to the Mental Health Act 1959.

He also denied three counts of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and three of being a care worker engaged in sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Forde was remanded into custody.

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