A nurse has been jailed after having sex with a "very vulnerable" female patient without protection.

Christopher Fasakin, 58, of Sunrise Avenue in Hornchurch, had sex with the woman on the nights of May 24 and 25 in 2020, and has subsequently been jailed for four-and-a-half-years.

Fasakin admitted to two counts of causing or inciting sexual activity with a person who has a mental disorder while working as a care worker, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

He was sentenced for these offences on Thursday (April 11), having worked as a night shift nurse at a hospital.

Judge Alison Levitt KC, who sentenced Fasakin, said he had no business exchanging phone numbers with the vulnerable woman.

“I find that there was grooming of the victim,” she said. “I am concerned that you felt that you could get away with this because the victim was a very young and very vulnerable woman.”

Judge Levitt also said that she viewed Fasakin's remorse with "scepticism".

Prosecutor Gary Rutter said Fasakin had been warned about being "too close" to female patients on the ward.

On this occasion Fasakin exchanged telephone numbers with the patient and they had sent each other messages.

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On the night of May 24, Fasakin struck up a conversation with the patient, Mr Rutter said.

“They had a cigarette together and ended up, for some reason, back in her bedroom,” he added.

Fasakin then had sex with the patient without wearing a condom.

He returned to her bedroom the next night and used a condom this time after buying one en route to work.

On the second night, hospital staff noticed Fasakin sitting huddled together very close with the patient before the incident.

After, a staff member said they saw the pair holding hands.

Fasakin approached another employee days later, claiming the victim was threatening to accuse him of having sex with her if she was not moved to another ward.

When staff questioned her, the victim showed the messages they had exchanged.

Fasakin was subsequently interviewed by police twice but denied any sexual activity had taken place.

But a semen stain and the patient's bedsheets were analysed and shown to match Fasakin's.

Fasakin was charged with two counts of rape in relation to the same incidents, but the prosecution offered no evidence for either count and not guilty verdicts were recorded.

Reporting by PA.