A perverted patient groped a doctor while she examined him for chest pains.
Artur Pietka had been put in a cubicle after he arrived at a hospital and the medic attended to examine him. But as the doctor leaned over Pietka to listen to his chest, he reached around and sexually assaulted her, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
The courageous clinician completed her consultation with Pietka but said what happened has affected her professional and personal life. Now Pietka, 45, a Polish national, of Brancepeth Avenue, Newcastle, who admitted sexual assault, has been given a prison sentence.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lane told the court the doctor attended Pietka’s cubicle and noticed he seemed under the influence of alcohol. Mr Lane told the court: “She leant over the defendant in order to listen to his chest.
“Initially, an interpreter had been present in the cubicle but it is not clear from the doctor’s statement, at the point she listened to his chest, if anyone was present. As she was carrying out the examination she says the defendant reached around and stroked her bottom.
“The doctor immediately stepped away and told the defendant not to touch her. She observed he appeared to smirk at her.”
The court heard the doctor left the cubicle and reported what had happened to other staff. She then sought a chaperone to accompany her while she completed her examination. Mr Lane said: “She felt obliged to return to the cubicle and complete her examination, clearly prioritising care for her patient.”
In a victim statement, the doctor said it is an inherent part of he work to be alone with patients. Mr Lane told the court: “She said as a result of the defendant’s actions she feels upset and anxious, particularly when seeing male patients alone. This offence has had an effect on her professional life and her personal life.”
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Judge Penny Moreland sentenced Pietka to 20 weeks behind bars, most of which he has already served on remand which means he will be released imminently. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years.
Judge Moreland told him: “An aggravating feature is that this was committed against a doctor who was attempting to offer you care in the hospital. It is also an aggravating feature that you were drunk.”
Brian Mark, defending, said Pietka had spent time in a Salvation Army hostel, where he was “bullied” and added: “He understands now drunken touching in the circumstances in which this took place can cause a lot of harm.
“Although he was drunk at the time, he’s reflecting on the matter and is extremely ashamed. He apologises to the victim and is deeply sorry for his conduct.”
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