A Nigerian healthcare worker has been sentenced to one year in prison by a United Kingdom court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a patient under his care at York Hospital.
Adewale Kudabo, who admitted to two counts of sexual assault on the first day of his trial in April, received his sentence on June 10. Judge Alex Menary emphasized during sentencing that Kudabo had "abused the trust" placed in him as a healthcare professional.
Details of the Assault
According to prosecutor Henry Fernnandez, Kudabo was assigned to bathe a patient who was experiencing severe pain. After assisting her, he inappropriately kissed her on the lips—an advance the victim attempted to avoid despite her vulnerable condition.
The court heard that days later, Kudabo approached the same patient again, offered another "bed bath," and made a second attempt to kiss her. These incidents reportedly caused the victim significant emotional distress, including anxiety and flashbacks.
"You abused that trust," Judge Menary told Kudabo in court, noting that the victim had placed confidence in him during a particularly vulnerable period.
Defense and Consequences
Jerry Sodipe, Kudabo's lawyer, described his client as remorseful, stating, "He has held up his hands to say, yes he is guilty, he shouldn't have done that." The court was informed that Kudabo had no prior convictions.
Sodipe added that Kudabo had relocated to the UK from Nigeria with his family for work opportunities but has since lost his employment following the incident.
The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which oversees York Hospital, issued a statement expressing "sincere apologies" to the victim and confirmed that Kudabo left his position shortly after the assault.
Judge Menary ruled that Kudabo must serve half of the 12-month sentence before being considered for release.
This case highlights the serious consequences of breaching professional boundaries in healthcare settings, particularly with vulnerable patients.
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