Newcastle dad-of-five jailed for sexually assaulting nurse treating him for chronic alcohol condition
A pervert has landed himself behind bars after he sexually assaulted a nurse who was trying to help him at his bedside.
Father-of-five Darren Weatherson was lying in hospital and receiving an IV drip needed to treat his "chronic" alcohol condition when the sick offence took place. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 47-year-old's cannula had fallen out and was being fitted with a new one by the woman in 2023.
Prosecutor Andrew Walker said she had briefly turned her back while assisting Weatherson when he used his other hand to grab her between her legs. Mr Walker added: "She immediately stepped back to push the defendant's arm away to get him off her. She told him what he had done was disgusting and inappropriate to which he answered 'come on man.'"
Mr Walker said the nurse continued her professionalism by finishing off fitting the cannula but left as soon ash she was done before reporting what happened. When quizzed by police, Weatherson said he couldn't remember what happened and later claimed it might have been an accident.
The court heard other nurses continued to treat him during the night but did so in pairs. In an impact statement, she said: "I want to say my role and responsibility as a nurse is to help people and I don't go to work to be sexually abused."
Judge Robert Spragg sentenced Weatherson, of Bishops Court, Denton Burn, Newcastle, to four months behind bars after pleading guilty to sexual assault. The court heard he had 41 past convictions for 68 offences.
The judge told him: "Nurses work long hours in quite testing conditions to help people like you and this is how you repay her. You were in hospital because you have a historic chronic alcohol dependence.
"As she went to place the canular back you sexually assaulted her by grabbing her between her legs. She stepped back and had to actually push your hand away and tell you what you did was disgusting and inappropriate."
Lorraine Mustard, defending, said Weatherson had never been in court before for this type of offending and had little recollection of what happened. He must also sign the sex offender's register for seven years.