Sheffield nurse charged with sexual assaults and voyeurism against patients and staff

An operating theatre nurse has been charged with a series of sexual offences against patients and staff at a large teaching teaching hospital.

South Yorkshire Police said Paul Grayson, 51, has been charged with a total of 20 offences, with most allegedly committed at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, in Sheffield.

Thirteen of the charges – 10 counts of voyeurism and three counts of sexual assault – relate to offences allegedly committed in the Day Case Theatre Unit at the hospital against five hospital staff members and four patients between 2017 and 2020.

Three of these voyeurism charges and one of the sexual assaults relate to the discovery of recordings of the intimate areas of three unidentified female patients, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

The remaining seven charges – one count of taking indecent photographs of a child, three counts of voyeurism and three counts of making indecent photographs of children – are unrelated to Grayson’s workplace, he said.

Chief Superintendent Shelley Hemsley, district commander for Sheffield, said: “I know this case is extremely unsettling. These charges follow an extensive investigation carried out by officers in our Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) department.

“Despite significant and wide-ranging enquiries by the team, who have worked closely with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it is highly unlikely that the three unidentified women will ever be identified as all existing lines of enquiry have now been exhausted.

“Despite this, we have pursued charges on behalf of these women so that the judicial process can continue.”

Grayson has been bailed to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on February 4, next year.

Professor Chris Morley, chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust took the allegations “extremely seriously” and has fully cooperated with the police.

Prof Morley said he was sorry that three of the four patients allegedly involved could not be identified.

He said: “Unfortunately, we do not have any further information to be able to confirm the identity of the three patients but we understand that some patients treated in the Day Case Theatre Unit at the Hallamshire Hospital between 2017 and 2020 may wish to speak to us and can call on 0114 2715757.

“Their details will be taken and then they will receive a telephone call back at their convenience.”