A nurse who sexually assaulted a woman admitted to A&E after apparently being given a spiked drink has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Ernest Cruz, 38, targeted the “barely conscious” woman in a private room at Bournemouth Hospital, entering 12 times over the course of two hours.
The victim, who is in her 30s and cannot be identified for legal reasons, said she felt helpless because she could not walk without assistance and repeatedly drifted in and out of consciousness.
Cruz was working as a triage nurse when the woman was brought to the hospital following a night out.
The married father of three had moved to the UK from the Philippines on an NHS work visa. He was not responsible for the woman’s care and had no legitimate reason to be in her room because he worked on a different ward.
CCTV showed Cruz repeatedly entering the room while recording observations on the patient’s chart using another staff member’s name.
After ensuring he was alone with the woman, Cruz undressed her and carried out what prosecutors described as an “absolutely abhorrent” sexual assault, apparently believing she would be too incapacitated to remember it.
The woman said she believed Cruz had read her admission notes and assumed he could assault her without being discovered.
In reality, she remained aware of what was happening and deliberately committed details about Cruz to memory so they could later be used as evidence.
Ernest Cruz, 38, attacked the “barely conscious” woman in a private room at Bournemouth Hospital, entering 12 times in two hours
Cruz was working as a triage nurse when the woman was brought to Bournemouth Hospital (pictured, file image) after a night out
She said: “He was not supposed to be anywhere near that ward, but he went there anyway and recorded observations under a colleague’s name.
“I was extremely out of it and kept slipping in and out of consciousness, but I knew something was wrong.
“I remember him saying, ‘You’re wet, you need to take your jumper off.’
“Being spiked felt like being very drunk, only much worse. I was fading in and out.
“I think he kept returning to check whether I was awake. I remember him leaning over me and touching me.
“I believe my body was going into shock. I could not do anything.
“Whenever I regained consciousness, I told myself I had to remember what was happening. I tried to concentrate on details such as his ring and tattoo.”
The assault happened on July 29, 2023. The woman said she had to wait three years before seeing the case reach justice.
Cruz denied charges of assault by penetration and sexual assault, but a jury at Bournemouth Crown Court convicted him. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
The court heard that Cruz arrived in the UK on an NHS work visa in 2021 and had previously been regarded as a man of “good character”.
He is expected to face deportation after completing his prison sentence.
The victim, who was later diagnosed with PTSD, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional time, but I want to speak about what must change so that it cannot happen to someone else.
“Hospitals need stronger safeguarding measures for vulnerable patients, especially when they are left alone during intimate care, changing or examinations. Chaperone rules also need to be strengthened.
“The hospital called me once to apologise, but it has not done anything to reassure me that this could not happen again.
“I recently had to return to hospital. On a women’s ward, a male member of staff entered alone, drew the curtain around another woman and I heard her say, ‘I haven’t got a bra on.’ I do not feel reassured.
“People do not understand how mentally exhausting the process can be: waiting years for a trial, reliving what happened, giving evidence and then trying to continue with your life. It has a massive impact.”
The woman said the trauma was so severe that she did not leave her home for “a week” after the trial.
She added: “I do not sleep properly at night. I keep the lights on and constantly check the doors.
“At the sentencing hearing, I could not believe he was still denying what he had done while his family sat there supporting him.
“I have created a website and support community for victims, where people who have experienced similar situations can speak to one another. They can remain anonymous and use nicknames.
“I did not feel I had anyone to talk to who truly understood. I saw a counsellor, but because she had not experienced it herself, I felt she did not understand.
“I think helping other people will help me recover from this.”
The victim said she had launched the project to support other sexual assault survivors and guide them through the legal process.
Recorder William Bebb KC, sentencing Cruz, said: “It is likely that her drink had been spiked. She was effectively defenceless and extremely vulnerable. I have no doubt you were fully aware of her condition when she was admitted, and you exploited that knowledge.
“You made sure you were alone with her and believed her condition meant she would be unconscious of what you were doing.
“When a person is admitted to hospital, they should be able to trust that they will be cared for safely. That trust exists between patients and medical professionals. You violated it.”
Cruz was sentenced to seven years and made subject to both a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order.
Bournemouth Hospital said Cruz, a band 5 nurse, was suspended after his arrest, later dismissed and referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The hospital said it had since strengthened its chaperone policy and reviewed patient feedback from the period of Cruz’s employment, adding that no other concerns had been reported.
