UK psych nurse Andrew Parkin banned on drugs-for-sex violation

September 8, 2013

A former prison psychiatric nurse has been banned from the profession accused of offences including the "exchange of drugs for sexual favours".

A four-day hearing at the Old Bailey heard Andrew Philip Parkin, 40, supplied non-prescription drugs and committed acts of sexual indecency.

The offences occurred while he worked at Guernsey Prison in 2010 and 2011.

Mr Parkin, who did not attend the hearing, was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The conduct and competence committee panel heard he was further accused of having inappropriate contact with patients and colleagues at the prison and attempting to entrap a prison officer.

Council chairman Alexander Coleman said: "The panel noted that there were various and many breaches of the nursing code.

"The registrant was employed as the mental health nurse in a prison with vulnerable people and with members of the opposite sex where he was unsupervised and in a position of control.

"There was an absolute and complete breach of trust in relation, including the exchange of drugs for sexual favours from patients.

"The panel therefore considers a striking off order is the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in the circumstances of this case."

Mr Parkin now lives in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire and has 28 days to appeal against his permanent ban.

Source: Psychiatric nurse Andrew Parkin is struck off, BBC News, September 6, 2013.