In a case that has rocked the Welsh healthcare community, a former NHS healthcare support worker has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting two female patients at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran. Ieuan Crump, 27, from Gilfach in Caerphilly county, was convicted of six counts of sexual assault and three counts of assault by penetration, following a trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. The offences, which occurred on August 10 and 13, 2021, involved Crump conducting fake and “entirely unnecessary” medical examinations for his own sexual gratification, as reported by BBC and Nation.Cymru.
The court heard harrowing accounts from both victims, who attended the hospital seeking help for pain, only to be manipulated and abused by someone they believed they could trust. Crump, who denied all allegations, was found guilty by a jury last month. Judge Vanessa Francis, in delivering the sentence, described his actions as “breathtakingly harmful” and noted the devastating breach of trust involved. “You examined parts of both young women’s bodies which were not required, you did not wear gloves because you wanted skin-to-skin contact with each of them,” Judge Francis said, as quoted by BBC. “There is a breach of trust in this case which is of the most extreme kind, you manipulated extremely vulnerable women, in significant amounts of pain.”
The impact on the victims has been severe and enduring. One woman, in a statement read to the court, described feeling as if her life had become a “nightmare” since the assaults. “The main emotional effect of the sexual assaults has been the negative effect on my mental health,” she said, according to Nation.Cymru. “I felt there was no way to escape the intrusive thoughts of what he did to me, this led me to try and take my life on three occasions. I just wanted my life to be over, so I didn’t have to relive what was in my head, of what Ieuan did to me. I feel very uncomfortable when I am treated by anyone in the medical profession, as I now trust no-one, least of all medics. I have been living in a nightmare since this time… I feel like I’m a shell of the person that I used to be.”
The court was told that since the assaults, this victim had only managed to leave her house three times and was no longer able to work in her previous profession. The other woman revealed she had been diagnosed with PTSD and that Crump’s actions had made her “untrusting” of men. “It has made me think that, if a healthcare worker can commit such an act, then any man is a threat,” she stated in her victim impact statement. “I do not want to be treated by the NHS or go back to the Grange.”
Judge Francis remarked on Crump’s character, describing him as someone who was “socially isolated” and “perhaps a little socially awkward,” but also “extremely confident and arrogant.” The judge added, “The fact of the matter was that you were also someone who was quite socially isolated, someone who perhaps found it difficult to fit in with others, and someone who displayed a certain amount of arrogance. Under the guise of medical treatment, you sexually assaulted your victims. Both young women involved in the treatment that you meted out have been utterly devastated by what you did to them.”
As part of his sentence, Crump was placed on the sex offenders register for life, given restraining orders relating to both victims, and barred from working with children and vulnerable people in the future. The court also heard that he did not wear gloves during the examinations, specifically to achieve skin-to-skin contact, further compounding the breach of professional and ethical standards expected in a healthcare setting.
Michael Jenkin, of the Crown Prosecution Service, underscored the gravity of Crump’s actions, stating: “Ieuan Crump exploited his position of power over two women when they were at their most vulnerable, for his own sexual gratification. His actions were an extreme breach of trust which was calculated and deliberate. The courage shown by the two women in giving their evidence to the jury allowed the Crown Prosecution Service to present a strong case, resulting in these convictions, and we thank them for their support.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck of Gwent Police also praised the victims’ bravery in coming forward. “I have total admiration and praise for the victims of Ieuan Crump, who bravely came forward to report this predatory individual who abused them for his own personal gratification,” Tuck said, according to Nation.Cymru. “He took advantage of his victims, who believed he would help them in their time of need but instead he committed these horrendous offences against them. Thanks to them, this dangerous individual who poses a significant risk to the public will no longer be able to target women and I hope they can continue the process of rebuilding their lives.”
The case has prompted reflection and response from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which oversees the Grange Hospital. A spokesperson for the Health Board confirmed that, prior to Crump’s employment, all checks were completed “in line with national NHS Employment Check Standards, with enhanced DBS and the required police checks also completed.” They noted that “no concerns” had been raised about Crump’s conduct during this process. “Our thoughts are with the victims, whose trust was betrayed in our hospital due to the horrifying behaviour of this individual,” the Health Board said in a statement. “Inappropriate behaviour by our staff or patients will not be tolerated and we will continue to work with our partners at Gwent Police to bring anyone responsible to justice.”
The Health Board also emphasized that support had been provided to the victims as soon as the concerns were raised, and that further support remains available following the court case. The case has underscored the importance of rigorous safeguarding and the need for continued vigilance in healthcare recruitment and oversight, even when all standard checks have been completed.
For the wider community, the case has served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of patients and the paramount importance of trust in the healthcare system. Authorities have encouraged anyone affected by similar issues to seek support, with resources such as the BBC Action Line and other victim support services available for those in need.
As the community processes the aftermath of this disturbing case, the hope remains that the courage shown by the victims and the swift response by law enforcement and the courts will help restore faith in the system and ensure that such a breach of trust is never repeated.
