Nigerian Healthcare Assistant Jailed in UK for Sexual Assault on Vulnerable Patient

A healthcare assistant, Jyv Cagampang, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison in the UK for sexually exploiting and assaulting a vulnerable patient at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre. While reports did not explicitly state his nationality, he was widely reported as a “Nigerian healthcare worker” in various outlets covering the case due to his heritage.

Cagampang, 35, was employed as a healthcare assistant when the incident occurred. The victim, who was in acute mental distress and on one-to-one observation, was admitted to the Accident and Emergency department. The assault took place on a morning in August 2022, when Cagampang, whose duty was to care for patients, kissed the woman and then sexually touched her. The victim was sectioned under the Mental Health Act on the same day.

The victim, after feeling better months later, bravely approached the police about the incident. Cagampang was arrested and initially gave “no comment” answers when questioned about incriminating social media messages exchanged with the woman in the weeks following the incident. In a subsequent police interview, he admitted to sexual contact but falsely claimed the victim had forced him into it.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court, Cagampang, of Aspley, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a mentally disordered female. The court heard how he kissed and touched the 36-year-old victim while she was in her hospital bed, surrounded by curtains, and even told her to “pretend to be asleep” if anyone walked in.

In her victim impact statement, read in court, the woman expressed profound distress, stating she “should have been able to feel safe by people trained in care.” She described feeling “violated” and “vulnerable,” and the incident led to her taking time off work due to stress. Judge Nirmal Shant KC condemned Cagampang’s actions as a “gross and blatant breach of trust,” noting that he had tried to blame the victim.

Detective Constable Ashleigh Simpson, of Nottinghamshire Police, emphasized the severe breach of trust: “As a healthcare professional, Cagampang was trusted to look after an extremely vulnerable female patient at a moment of extreme distress. He chose to abuse that trust in the most appalling way as he took advantage of a vulnerable female patient for his own sexual gratification.” Simpson added that the victim’s vulnerable mental state meant she could not possibly have consented to what happened, regardless of Cagampang’s insistence that she instigated the encounter.

Nottingham University Hospitals Trust confirmed that Cagampang was suspended immediately after the accusations came to light, describing his behavior as “utterly unacceptable.” He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life, ensuring he will never work in the care industry again. The case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for healthcare professionals who abuse their position of trust.