A HEALTH worker who satisfied his “perverted lust” by carrying out an intimate test on a teenager has been told he faces jail.
Damien Bible was convicted yesterday as it emerged he was allowed back to work after an inquiry by Bolton Primary Care Trust cleared him. Children’s charities and health leaders have condemned the PCT’s actions, branding them “irresponsible” and “outrageous”.
Last night, Tim Evans, chief executive of the PCT, said: “I hold my hands up — it looks as if he should have been suspended and stayed suspended. There probably was a mistake on our part and we need to work out what we could have done better.”
Bolton Crown Court heard Bible, aged 26, of Gainsborough Avenue, Daubhill, performed an intimate examination on his victim — which should have only been carried out by a doctor in the presence of a chaperone — while he was a health worker at The Parallel Clinic in Churchgate, Bolton town centre.
The prosecution alleged he took a swab from the girl to satisfy a “perverted lust”. Bible denied the charge, claiming the teenager did the test herself to check whether she had a sexually transmitted disease.
But he was found guilty of sexual activity with the 15-year-old girl by a majority verdict of 11 to one after jurors deliberated for more than seven hours following the trial at Bolton Crown Court.
The incident happened in January last year. Bible was suspended but was allowed to return to work on February 5 until March 15, when he was suspended for the second time after Safeguarding Children, the organisation now known as the Child Protection Agency, became involved and a criminal investigation was launched.
Claude Knights, director of the children’s charity Kidscape, said: “We want organisations like primary care trusts to be transparent because that’s how you get justice, otherwise you’re protecting the institution more than the young people you’re working for.
“It was irresponsible to allow Bible back to work. It will lead to mistrust and young people need to trust clinics like this.”
Cllr Andy Morgan, chairman of Bolton Council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “The protection of the young person using these services is paramount and the PCT should have gone straight to the police.
“I’m shocked and outraged Bible was allowed to return to work and work with children who can often be vulnerable. I have children myself and this is an outrage.”
PCT bosses have already introduced extra training for staff in dealing with allegations of abuse. And they have a designated person, Pam Jones, as the children’s safeguarding officer, to deal with issues of child abuse.
Mr Evans said: “We are extremely sorry for the distress caused to the young woman concerned and to her close friends and family.
“We acknowledge with regret that the organisation did not respond at all times in the way that we should have done, but we have learned from what happened.
“Since the incident, the PCT has taken steps to ensure a more effective, thorough and immediate response to any such incidents or allegations in the future, as well as working to minimise the risks of such incidents occurring.
“For example, we have reviewed and strengthened our policies, procedural guidance to staff, links with the local authority, leadership and human resources arrangements, and training for all staff in respect of child protection.
“We will also be engaging an external agency to help ensure we have implemented all the lessons learned.”
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