Ex-St Andrew's Healthcare carer spared jail after kissing mental health patient and sending explicit texts

A former St Andrew's Healthcare carer who kissed a 'vulnerable' mental health patient five times was spared jail at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, June 30).

Adam White, aged 32, of Woodside Green, who was a senior healthcare assistant, was given a 30-month community order after previously pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with the patient.

Gary Short, prosecuting, said the defendant had developed a sexual interest in the patient and exchanged phone numbers with her.

He texted the patient about his fantasies of having sex with her in the Billing Road mental health hospital and sent her an explicit picture, the court heard.

The court was told White "limited his physical actions to full blown kissing with tongues", telling the patient about his dreams involving her and complementing her.

Judge Herbert said: "Some of your messages made it clear you wanted sexual activity that went beyond kissing."

The court heard a professional relationship then resumed but the alarm was raised after a colleague overheard them talking about the texts.

White denied kissing the patient to police after being arrested but admitted to sending the picture and texts out of fear of his employer finding out - before pleading guilty in court.

The victim's mental health deteriorated and her stay in hospital was made longer as a result of the ordeal, Judge Herbert said.

"The effect upon her cannot be underestimated - it was profound," he said.

His Honour Judge David Herbert said White's offending did cross the custody threshold but decision to desist 'before it went too far' convinced him not to send him to prison.

Instead he imposed the community order with a requirement to complete 40 sessions of a sexual offender programme and 50 rehabilitation activity days.

"There won't be any second chances - it's up to you that this offending becomes a thing of the past and you don't trouble the courts again," the judge warned him.