Adewale Kudabo, a 47-year-old Nigerian health assistant at York Hospital, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for sexually assaulting a female patient under his care.
Kudabo pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and was convicted at York Crown Court on Tuesday.
The court heard that the victim, who was almost entirely immobile due to a serious medical condition, was assaulted twice in her hospital bed.
Prosecutor Henry Fernandez detailed that the first incident occurred when Kudabo gave the patient a bed bath and then leaned over to kiss her on the lips.
Despite her attempts to turn away, her condition made resistance impossible.
Days later, Kudabo returned, and after the woman declined another bed bath, he kissed her again while she was helpless. Fernandez emphasized her vulnerability, stating, “She was in a lot of pain and almost completely dependent on others for her care.”
These incidents happened nine months after Kudabo arrived in the UK from Nigeria.
At the time, he was a healthcare assistant at York Hospital and resided in the city’s South Bank area.
When questioned by police, Kudabo claimed he kissed the woman on the forehead as a gesture of sympathy, asserting it was “in keeping with his job.”
In a victim impact statement, the woman described enduring trauma, including feelings of “helplessness, fear and loss of trust,” along with depression, anxiety, and recurring flashbacks.
Kudabo’s defense counsel, Jerry Sodipe, acknowledged his client’s behavior was “inappropriate” but noted his previously clean record.
Sentencing Kudabo, Judge Alex Menary stated, “You abused the trust placed in you as a carer. She was particularly vulnerable—immobile and dependent on you for her care. I am satisfied the kiss was on the lips, not the forehead. What you did has had a profound impact on the victim’s life.”
The judge added that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary “to mark the seriousness of what you did to someone in your care.”
Kudabo will serve half of his 12-month sentence in custody, with the remainder on license. He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
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