Shropshire care home nurse struck off for reign of sex terror

Malcolm Edward Thomas groped and made lewd remarks to three workmates including one who was left so distressed she had to take anti-depressants.

The female worker, known as Colleague A, had her breasts grabbed while she was reaching into a drugs cupboard and told the Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing in London that she was reduced to a 'blubbering mess'.

Thomas, who did not attend the hearing, also sent lewd texts telling her he had performed a sex act on himself while thinking about her.

He also claimed he was doing 'a lizard impression' when he waggled his tongue suggestively at an elderly patient in Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home in Minsterley, near Shrewsbury.

He pulled the vulnerable pensioner onto his lap and asked her for a 'snog', and also kissed his own hand while it was clamped over the patient's mouth.

He denied all the allegations and said the women made up the complaints because they didn't agree with changes he had made.

The harassment campaign happened between August and October 2010 and a panel found six charges of sexual harassment against Thomas proved. But they decided his actions towards the pensioner were not sexually motivated.

Panel chair Michael Cann said: "He sexually harassed his colleagues and behaved in an entirely unprofessional manner towards a very vulnerable patient.

"His sexually motivated behaviour was deliberate and repeated and caused his colleagues deep distress.

"Further he abused his position of trust in relation to a highly vulnerable patient who lacked capacity."

He added: "The panel determined a striking off order was the necessary and proportionate sanction."

Thomas was hoisting the dementia patient into a wheelchair when he sat her on his lap. In a letter read out at the hearing he claimed: "Colleague B asked me to do my lizard impression as the residents love it."

But Colleague B said that explanation was a 'total lie'.

Colleague A told the panel about constant harassment which had left her unable to sleep or eat properly.

She was prescribed anti-depressants, and had to double her diabetes medication because it was affecting her eating, the hearing was told.

But when he tried to unbutton Colleague B's tunic and look at her breasts, he was given a punch to the jaw.