Jason Forde, 56, has pleaded not guilty to having unlawful sexual activity with a woman being treated for a mental disorder at a hospital unit in East London.
Appearing via video link at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday afternoon, Forde denied eight counts, including having sexual intercourse with the woman while she received treatment for a mental disorder. He also denied charges alleging he engaged her in other sexual activity while she was in his care.
Trial date set
Her Honour Emma Deacon KC set a trial date for April 26 2027, with a time estimate of four days. Forde was remanded into custody.
The alleged offences date back to the 2000s, when Forde worked as a nurse at the unit, which was on the site of Homerton Hospital in Hackney. At the time, the unit was part of East London and City Mental Health Trust and is now part of the East London NHS Foundation Trust.
Extradition from Barbados
Prosecutor Paul Fairley told the court that Forde's extradition from Barbados had taken "many, many years to achieve," with Forde arriving at Heathrow Airport earlier this summer.
Forde denied one count of "having sexual intercourse with a woman who was a mental defective" contrary to section 7(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and one count of "having unlawful sexual intercourse with a patient" contrary to section 128(1) of the Mental Health Act 1959.
He also denied three counts of "sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice" contrary to section 30(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and three counts of being a care worker engaged in "sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder" contrary to section 38(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
