A paramedic called to help a teenage girl after her drink was spiked with a date-rape drug is facing jail for sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance. Iain Finney, 33, who is married, attacked the 19-year-old as she lay in a state of near-paralysis on a stretcher. She appeared to be so disorientated that it was initially assumed she was extremely drunk. But hospital tests showed her drink had been spiked with Rohypnol.
One of the side effects of the drug is that the victim can barely move but has some awareness of what is happening. As is routine, Finney was alone in the back of the ambulance with the patient to monitor her condition on the journey to hospital from Mercy, a nightclub in Norwich. Believing she would not remember, he kissed her breasts and took photographs on his mobile phone.
When she arrived at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital she was able to tell a nurse what had happened. And as she began to recover, she sent a text message to her horrified mother. Finney - who had served close to ten years with the East of England Ambulance Trust - initially denied the charges when questioned by police and supplied his wife's mobile phone claiming it was his own.
But a DNA examination found his saliva on his victim's breasts. At Norwich Crown Court he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and perverting the course of justice - a charge relating to the mobilephone evidence.Judge Simon Barham released him on bail for sentencing on February 5, saying all options remained open including jail.
A source close to the case said: 'Everyone has been left shocked and disgusted about what he did. People find it very hard to stomach that this could happen. 'The patient was in an extremely vulnerable position. As if being drugged was not bad enough, she was assaulted by someone who she thought had come to help her and that she could trust. 'Thankfully, it's extremely rare for something like this to happen.' Finney was suspended in November from practising as a paramedic and has since quit his post.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Trust said: 'The matter has been referred to the governing body, the Health Professions Council, which has suspended his practice as a paramedic.' Last month, two paramedics with South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust were arrested on suspicion of neglect after a man died in their care. The pair were sent to 59-year-old Barry Baker's home in Brighton on November 29 after he called 999 saying he thought he was having a heart attack.
Facing a jail sentence: Paramedic Iain Finney pleaded guilty to sexual assault
It is understood that Mr Baker, who lived alone, collapsed while on the phone to ambulance controllers but the line was still open when the crew arrived at the scene. Operators allegedly heard the ambulancemen make derogatory comments about the state of Mr Baker's house and suggest he was 'not worth saving'. The pair, aged 35 and 44, were arrested on December 5 on suspicion of neglecting to perform a duty in a public office contrary to common law. Both have been suspended from their jobs and bailed pending a police investigation
source
One of the side effects of the drug is that the victim can barely move but has some awareness of what is happening. As is routine, Finney was alone in the back of the ambulance with the patient to monitor her condition on the journey to hospital from Mercy, a nightclub in Norwich. Believing she would not remember, he kissed her breasts and took photographs on his mobile phone.
When she arrived at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital she was able to tell a nurse what had happened. And as she began to recover, she sent a text message to her horrified mother. Finney - who had served close to ten years with the East of England Ambulance Trust - initially denied the charges when questioned by police and supplied his wife's mobile phone claiming it was his own.
But a DNA examination found his saliva on his victim's breasts. At Norwich Crown Court he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and perverting the course of justice - a charge relating to the mobilephone evidence.Judge Simon Barham released him on bail for sentencing on February 5, saying all options remained open including jail.
A source close to the case said: 'Everyone has been left shocked and disgusted about what he did. People find it very hard to stomach that this could happen. 'The patient was in an extremely vulnerable position. As if being drugged was not bad enough, she was assaulted by someone who she thought had come to help her and that she could trust. 'Thankfully, it's extremely rare for something like this to happen.' Finney was suspended in November from practising as a paramedic and has since quit his post.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Trust said: 'The matter has been referred to the governing body, the Health Professions Council, which has suspended his practice as a paramedic.' Last month, two paramedics with South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust were arrested on suspicion of neglect after a man died in their care. The pair were sent to 59-year-old Barry Baker's home in Brighton on November 29 after he called 999 saying he thought he was having a heart attack.
Facing a jail sentence: Paramedic Iain Finney pleaded guilty to sexual assault
It is understood that Mr Baker, who lived alone, collapsed while on the phone to ambulance controllers but the line was still open when the crew arrived at the scene. Operators allegedly heard the ambulancemen make derogatory comments about the state of Mr Baker's house and suggest he was 'not worth saving'. The pair, aged 35 and 44, were arrested on December 5 on suspicion of neglecting to perform a duty in a public office contrary to common law. Both have been suspended from their jobs and bailed pending a police investigation
source
Last edited by blademaster (2009-01-19 10:02:06)
