Former Doctor Jailed for Sexually Assaulting Patient

Simon Abraham, 34, of Penrith Way, Eastbourne, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a patient after visiting her at home.

Abraham, who was working at Eastbourne District General Hospital at the time of the offence, contacted the female patient after she had been discharged following treatment. He falsely claimed to have received a call from a colleague who was "concerned about her condition" and offered to visit her, stating he had been trained in specialist massage in India.

The victim agreed to the visit, but during the massage, Abraham sexually assaulted her. He left when another visitor arrived but continued to call her afterwards.

The patient contacted the hospital, who advised her to report the incident to the police. An investigation was launched and Abraham was arrested.

Following a four-day trial at Chichester Crown Court on May 26, Abraham was found guilty of sexual assault. He was sentenced on July 14 to 18 months in prison, with nine months custodial and nine months on licence.

The court also ordered Abraham to be placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years and imposed a five-year restraining order to protect the victim from further contact.

DC Jo Gledhill stated: "Abraham took advantage of the victim's pain, fraudulently accessing her patient details even though he wasn't officially treating her, and then visiting her when he finished work, claiming that he could massage her headache away. When he was arrested, he denied the assault but later admitted going to her house, without admitting to the sexual assault. We will always take reports of this nature very seriously and specially trained officers will deal with your call. If you have been sexually assaulted, please contact us and we will investigate."