Affair was not wrong, nurse tells court

12:47pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

A PSYCHIATRIC nurse who slept with one of his patients, just a few years after having a similar affair with another woman, told a disciplinary hearing he had done nothing wrong.

Julian Sobey told a disciplinary panel from the Nursing and Midwifery Council, that he did not regret the fling despite losing his job, house and car.

The 37-year-old is now bankrupt as a result of the relationship with the 22-year-old woman, known as Patient A, whom he fell for when she was admitted to the K2 ward at the Royal Bolton Hospital in April, 2006.

Sobey, from Horwich, invited the woman to his home, where they drank wine and had sex, following her discharge from hospital in May, 2006, even though she was still being treated in the community.

The affair came to light after their relationship cooled, and the woman sent him abusive text messages, threatening to burn his house down.

Sobey, who kept his NHS job after having an affair with another patient several years earlier, told the hearing that the woman had asked other patients on the ward to give him her number.

He called her and they went on two dates - for coffee and a walk in the park - before she went to his house on May 19 when they had sex.

After receiving a threatening text message the next day, he confessed all to his deputy ward manager, Dawn Farrington.

Sobey said: "I entered into the relationship unwisely, but I did not think it was wrong. I regret what happened. I understand there has been some discomfort because of the break-up of the relationship, as there would be when anyone breaks up.

"The result of the relationship and my dismissal from work has also caused a lot of harm to both myself and my family, losing my home, career and car and being made bankrupt."

Sobey told the panel how the relationship soured when he was suspended and was ordered to stop all contact with Patient A.Sobey claimed an earlier relationship with a patient in 2000 had received the blessing of hospital bosses.

Part of yesterday's hearing was held in private because of health matters.

Sobey admits having an inappropriate personal and sexual relationship with Patient A between May 13, 2006, and June 13, 2006.

He also admits having sexual intercourse with the woman on May 19, 2006.

The hearing has been adjourned until a later date when the panel will decide if his fitness to practice is impaired, and decide whether to strike him off.

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