Paul Grayson Sheffield: Nurse charged with sexual assault offences allegedly committed at Hallamshire Hospital

Operating theatre nurse Paul Grayson, 51, has today (Wednesday 8 December) been charged with a total of 20 offences.

Thirteen of the charges - 10 counts of voyeurism and three counts of sexual assault - relate to offences allegedly committed in the day case theatre unit at the hospital against five hospital staff members and four patients between 2017 and 2020.

Three of these voyeurism charges and one of the sexual assaults relate to the discovery of recordings of the intimate areas of three unidentified female patients.

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The remaining seven charges - one count of taking indecent photographs of a child, three counts of voyeurism and three counts of making indecent photographs of children - are unrelated to Grayson's workplace.

Chief Superintendent Shelley Hemsley, District Commander for Sheffield, said: "I know this case is extremely unsettling. These charges follow an extensive investigation carried out by officers in our Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) department.

"Despite significant and wide-ranging enquiries by the team, who have worked closely with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it is highly unlikely that the three unidentified women will ever be identified as all existing lines of enquiry have now been exhausted.

"Despite this, we have pursued charges on behalf of these women so that the judicial process can continue."

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals has sought to reassure patients in the wake of the allelations against Grayson.

Professor Chris Morley, Chief Nurse, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: “We and our patients expect a high standard of professionalism from all our staff. We have taken the allegations against this nurse who worked in the Day Case Theatre Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital extremely seriously.

"We have fully co-operated with the police to do all we can to support the investigation which has resulted in the charges now being brought.

"The nurse has not worked in any of our hospitals since the arrest in December 2020 and we immediately reported the concerns raised to the relevant professional body which is the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

"We can confirm that the required employment checks in place at the time of appointment were carried out appropriately. We are so very sorry that of the four patients involved we cannot identify three of them due to the nature of the images and understand this will be distressing for anyone who had surgery in the Day Case Theatre Unit between 2017 and 2020 which is the period the charges relate to.

"Throughout the investigation we have also provided support to the staff who have been affected by the allegations and investigation.

"Until the outcome of the court case is confirmed it would be inappropriate to comment further on the nurse or the allegations.

"Unfortunately we do not have any further information to be able to confirm the identity of the three patients but we understand that some patients treated in the Day Case Theatre Unit at the Hallamshire Hospital between 2017 and 2020 may wish to speak to us and can call on 0114 2715757.”

Grayson has been bailed to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on 4 February 2022.