A nurse who sexually assaulted a female patient as he helped her undress in hospital has been jailed. Ernest Paul Cruz, of Merstham, Surrey, was found guilty of sexual assault and assault by penetration of the woman aged in her 30s following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.
As well as a seven-year prison sentence, the 38-year-old was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order and placed on the sex offenders’ register.
The incident at Royal Bournemouth Hospital
The woman had gone to the emergency department at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital after becoming unwell in the early hours of July 30, 2023. She was assessed and then moved to another room where she was alone with Cruz.
A Dorset Police spokesman told how Cruz told the woman that she needed to change and he assisted in taking her clothes off but during this process he "began touching her inappropriately and proceeded to sexually assault her".
Victim reports assault to nurse
It was the following morning that the woman told a female nurse what had happened and the police were called.
The spokesman for the force said: "A woman aged in her 30s was taken for treatment at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital after becoming unwell during the early hours of Sunday July 30 2023.
"When she arrived at the hospital, she was assessed in the emergency department before being moved to another room. As she was alone in the room with nurse Ernest Cruz, he said that she needed to change and he assisted in taking her clothes off.
"During this, he began touching her inappropriately and proceeded to sexually assault her. The victim disclosed what had happened to a female nurse the following morning and police were notified."
Police praise victim's courage
Detective Constable Jordan Hopkins said: "The victim was in a vulnerable position, having been admitted to hospital when unwell, at the time she was sexually assaulted by Ernest Cruz.
"She has shown immense courage in coming forward to disclose what happened to her, support our investigation and give evidence during the trial.
"I hope the bravery she has shown gives strength to other victims of sexual offences and encourages them to come forward in the knowledge that we will take them seriously."
