Hampshire community nurse jailed for abusing teenage cancer patients
A cancer nurse has been jailed for abusing teenage patients while they were under her care.
Emma Sinclair, 30, of Eastleigh, was told she “lacked genuine remorse” as she was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and a 10-year restraining order.
As a community nurse, Sinclair owed a duty of care to the children in her care, and on 6 February 2024, she committed acts of ill-treatment and wilful neglect against her patients. When sentencing Sinclair, the judge noted Sinclair made “numerous attempts to avoid responsibility” for her actions.
‘Ill-treatment or wilful neglect’ is a criminal offence reserved for persons who are care workers under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. The law defines such care workers as persons who are paid to provide healthcare for adults and/or children, or social work to adults, and includes persons in managerial or supervisory roles.
This law is designed to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, including those with physical or mental health needs, disabilities, those requiring care due to dependence on drugs or alcohol, those dealing with pregnancy and childbirth, and anyone requiring care by reason of age or illness. Sinclair not only breached her duty of care to her patients, but did this to a criminal level.
As a nurse caring for children diagnosed with cancer, Sinclair was employed to care for vulnerable children who rely on their medical providers for their health needs.
It is a serious offence to commit ill-treatment or wilful neglect. Abusive behaviour of this kind can have lasting physical and mental health consequences for victims.
Such abuses are crimes and can be reported to the police. However, such wilful neglect or ill-treatment can also cause significant losses to an individual. For victims of this type of abuse, a civil law claim can follow a criminal conviction and offer victims compensation to help them fund medical and therapeutic treatment, to reflect their losses resulting from a care worker’s failings.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we have a specialist team of experts in abuse law who support survivors of abuse to report their experience and to bring claims to help survivors address and seek accountability for what they have suffered. We are dedicated to offering free, no-obligation advice about your rights. We act solely for survivors of abuse and will treat you with respect and compassion.
If you would like to speak to one of our team you can contact Bolt Burdon Kemp on 020 3504 7917 or online where you will receive free, no-obligation legal advice.
