A patient who had a stroke and groped four nurses during a hospital stay has been given a suspended prison sentence.

When asked if his behaviour was appropriate James Mitchell, 69, told police ‘it would have been 40 years ago’.

The first attack happened while a nurse tried to make him comfortable in a chair next to his bed, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Mitchell grabbed her buttocks and she told him it was unacceptable but he continued grinning and laughing.

He then pulled her towards him as though he was going to kiss her and started puckering his lips. When asked to stop, Mitchell just smiled.

A second nurse was groped on the backside as she put Mitchell to bed.

She told him he was a ‘naughty boy’ before asking if he could see the hospital Chaplin because he was having dirty thoughts about her.

The third victim was groped on the breast while she gave him a a bed bath.

Meanwhile the fourth victim was targeted twice by Mitchell.

First he cupped her backside then smirked and smiled while the second involved him reaching up her dress to touch her inner thigh.

All four nurses told a judge that they were not willing to put up with such behaviour with people they were trying to help.

One nurse said: ‘When he assaulted me I was extremely annoyed. He is so sleazy. We are nurses looking after patients who have severe problems.’

Another said: ‘I feel physically sick. He was getting sexual gratification from what he was doing.’

Mitchell, from Sunderland, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay a £200 fine.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw

Judge Sarah Mallett said: ‘These offences were against nurses carrying out a very important and necessary public function for which you in particular should be extremely grateful.

‘They were committed against nurses who were carrying out an important public function that requires them to work with people in close quarters.’

She added that she was giving a suspended prison sentence because of the health issues that led to him ending up in hospital.

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