Adewale Kudabo was jailed for 12 months in the UK for sexually assaulting a female patient.
He kissed her twice while working as a caregiver at York Hospital, violating her trust.
A Nigerian healthcare worker, Adewale Kudabo, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a female patient at York Hospital in the United Kingdom.
The 47-year-old committed the offenses while working as a caregiver at the hospital. According to details presented in court, Kudabo had been assigned to assist a woman who was in significant physical discomfort. Though the act of bathing her was part of his professional duty, his conduct afterward crossed the line.
Prosecutor Henry Fernnandez explained that after completing the bath, Kudabo suddenly bent down and kissed the patient on the lips. Despite being in pain, the woman managed to move slightly, but she could not avoid the kiss. The unexpected act left her confused, distressed, and deeply uncomfortable.
The inappropriate behavior did not end there. Just days later, Kudabo again offered to give the same patient a “bed bath.” During the encounter, he attempted to kiss her once more. Although the woman tried to move away, Kudabo managed to kiss her again, causing further emotional harm. The victim later reported that she continues to suffer from anxiety and flashbacks as a result of these incidents.
Eventually, she reported the assaults to the police, and Kudabo was arrested. During the trial held in April, Kudabo pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on the very first day.
Presiding over the case on June 10, Judge Alex Menary told Kudabo that the patient had placed her trust in him at a vulnerable moment. “You abused that trust,” the judge said, emphasizing that the nature of the offense warranted a custodial sentence. Kudabo was ordered to serve half of the one-year term before he becomes eligible for release.
Kudabo’s lawyer, Jerry Sodipe, noted that his client had no previous criminal history and had shown remorse for his actions. He said Kudabo admitted guilt and wrongly believed the kiss would comfort the patient. The barrister added that Kudabo now fully acknowledges that his actions were inappropriate.
Kudabo, who had relocated to the UK from Nigeria with his family, has since lost his job at York Hospital.
Following the sentencing, the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust issued an apology to the affected patient. The hospital management stated that they acted quickly once the complaint was made, and Kudabo was no longer employed at the facility. They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all patients under their care.
