The case of the NHS worker cleared of sex assault on foot patient who he helped go to toilet

A healthcare assistant faced an unusual trial after being accused of sexual assault of a patient who asked for assistance going to the toilet.

Jobin Jose, 41, was charged with one count of sexual assault by penetration in connection with an incident involving a foot patient at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, (above) on May 11 2022, as exclusively revealed by Essex News and Investigations.

The complainant had alleged Mr Jose launched a "vigorous" sexual attack on her after she awoke from a foot operation on the hospital's Notley Ward.

The jury heard that the woman had not felt able to walk to the toilet due to her condition and asked for a bed pan, and assistance from Mr Jose.

Mr Jose, who vigorously denied the offence, told the court that she asked him to wipe her afterwards.

He said: "She asked me to wipe her, so I went to the toilet and took two tissues and wiped her."

He said he had looked for a colleague to help, but staff shortages meant there were no female nurses or chaperones available.

Prosecutor Ravi Dogra agreed with Mr Jose that it was clear the victim did not like the defendant.

Mr Jose was asked if he wiped the patient's vagina without consent or penetrated her with his fingers, and he replied: "No, it's a lie."

He said: "When the patient requests something to me, it's my responsibility to help, and I did that.

"If the patient is asking me to bring a female staff to help her I would definitely do that."

After a four-day trial in October 2024, the jury found Mr Jose not guilty of one count of assault by penetration.