Exclusive:Private ambulance worker groped 79-year-old woman with dementia on way to care home in "gross" breach of trust
Davison was previously employed by West Yorkshire Police for over 30 years, the court heard
A private ambulance worker previously employed by West Yorkshire Police for over 30 years sexually assaulted a 79-year-old woman with dementia en-route to a Sheffield care home from hospital, a court heard.
Neil Davison targeted the elderly woman believing she “wouldn’t know” three times within 15 minutes while sat next to her in the vehicle on March 11, 2024.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the victim had been admitted to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital prior to the assault while suffering a psychotic episode.
Predatory Davison was shown on CCTV from the ambulance within “arm’s reach” of the complainant, touching her “outer” and “upper” thigh and then her “crotch”, said Ian West, prosecuting.
When the victim, who cannot be identified, arrived at the care home destination a “safeguarding” assessment was carried out due to her “presentation” and the vehicle’s cameras were examined.
Describing the footage, Mr West said: “She pushes his hand away and on the second occasion she does similarly. On the third occasion she shoos the defendant away.
“She was in distress and became angry on arrival and said she didn’t want to get off the ambulance. She said ‘how would you like it?’ while touching her thigh.”
Davison’s barrister Rebecca Tanner said her client, who had no previous convictions, would regret the offence “for the rest of his life”.
She added that former cancer patient Davison was “still in a very uncertain medical position”.
Judge Rachel Harrison told the defendant: “You worked for West Yorkshire Police for 31 years before you retired.
“What you did was a gross breach of trust but this lady knew what you had done and made it perfectly clear when the ambulance stopped.
“You were a private ambulance worker - she lacked capacity and you did not think she would know what you had done.
“She was left in such a state that she had to return to hospital. That’s due to you.”
Davison admitted sexual assault. He was jailed for 20 months suspended for 18 months and handed 80 hours of unpaid work.