Mentally-ill Sheffield man detained in hospital after groping psychiatric nurse

Sheffield Crown Court heard on August 24 how Hamza Abdi, aged 24, of Buckenham Drive, Burngreave, Sheffield, groped the nurse’s bottom during a visit to the defendant’s grandmother’s home in Sheffield.

Simon Reevell, prosecuting, said the complainant went to that address and was invited in and as the defendant stood by to allow her to go past she noticed he locked the door behind her and as he indicated for her to go past he grabbed the left cheek of her bottom.

Mr Reevell said: “She said she must leave and he apologised and said he had not had his medication and he prevented her from leaving by locking the door.”

The complainant called for the defendant’s grandmother who appeared, according to Mr Reevell, and it was suggested the complainant could go with the defendant to his home which she agreed to do just so she could get safely out of the property.

Abdi pleaded guilty to the sexual assault which happened on March 4, 2019.

Mr Reevell added: “In a victim personal statement the complainant described she was really frightened that she was detained and feared she would be raped.”

The complainant has been so badly affected by the incident, according to Mr Reevell, that she stated the incident has ruined her career after she has now lost the passion for caring for people with mental health problems and she has changed her job.

Judge Roger Thomas QC recognised that Abdi has previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and he is currently being detained under a civil order in hospital under the Mental Health Act for nearly one-and-a-half years with medication.

Judge Thomas told Abdi: “You are in hospital and you have been there sometime now. There is some progress being made with you, and you are better now than in March, 2019, when this terrible thing happened.”

Judge Thomas imposed an order under the Mental Health Act to continue Abdi’s detention in hospital.

Abdi was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven-years.