Rapist assaults woman on ward

A convicted rapist has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a 73-year-old woman in a hospital's mixed ward.

Bernard Bush, 50, was found guilty of the attack on the woman, who suffers from dementia, in a mixed ward at St George's Hospital, Tooting, in April.

Speaking after the jury returned its verdict at Kingston Crown Court, Judge Charles Tilling said that Bush had been allowed on to the ward after being admitted through accident and emergency without any background checks.

He warned: "A policy which allows an admission without any investigation of the patient's background is bound to result in other incidents similar to this one."

Judge Tilling added: "I would invite the NHS and the responsible minister to look carefully at the facts of this case."

Bush has a string of previous convictions including one in 1996, when he was jailed for five years for rape, and two relating to failures to observe the terms of his sex offender registration. Sentencing was adjourned until 17 September.

The court heard yesterday that Bush, of Clapham, was admitted to a mixed ward on 7 April, when staff described him as intoxicated.

Bush denied indecent assault, claiming he had gone over to the woman to cover her up because she was exposed. But hospital staff told the court that Bush was in the bed next to her.