Woman cleaner at mental health hospital had sex with patient

Grandmother Julie Lott, of Villiers Street, Bury, would sneak off with the man to the bathroom or laundry room to for sex sessions - sometimes several times a day.

A fellow patient, who said “they were always together”, caught them in a compromising position in the ward bathroom and blew the whistle on their clandestine activities, which had spanned three months.

Lott, 51, who used to bring chocolates and an e-cigarette for the man, tried to brazen it out when quizzed by police and lied claiming he had repeatedly raped her.

But the next day she confessed it was a lie and said their “affair” had been consensual.

Julie Lott (Image: Lynda Roughley)

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Lott had been “infatuated” with the man, who has learning difficulties and personality disorders.

Staff, concerned about their closeness although unaware of the sexual activity, had warned her not to be out of sight when with him but she persisted in her sexual activity with him, said Gerald Baxter, prosecuting.

While his mental condition had noticeably improved during their illicit relationship, it deteriorated after she was suspended and he now needs to be in a higher security hospital.

Jailing Lott for two years Judge Gary Woodall told her: “Although he described it was all with his consent and although he described how he loved you and did not feel you had taken advantage of him, the fact is he is someone who does not have the capacity to enter into or end sexual relationships.

"He is unable to make an informed decision.

“He needed to be protected, not only from others, but from himself.”

Judge Woodhall told the mum-of-three: “You breached the trust placed in you and you ignored all the training you had received.”

She had also lied when questioned by police saying he had raped her and “in essence” blackmailed her threatening she would lose her job.

But the next day she admitted the truth and said that they had had sex around 10 to 12 occasions, he said.

The offences occurred at a difficult time in her 20 year marriage and the relationship with the patient began as flirtatious “and given the state of your marriage at that time you acted on your feelings".

“It is clear you were infatuated with him. You remain dismissive of the affect on him,” added the judge.

He told her to took into consideration her hard working life and the lengthy delay in the case coming to court.

He ordered her to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and imposed a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.

Mr Baxter told the court that Lott used to be a cleaner at a mental hospital in Whalley, Lancashire, but when that closed in November 2020 she was transferred to the Merseyside hospital where the offences took place the following year.

The hospital’s clinical services manager told the judge that the incidents were probably a significant factor in the patient’s deterioration.

Lott pleaded guilty to nine offences involving a care worker ending in sexual activity with a mentally disordered male and one of perverting the course of justice.

Phil Holden, defending, said that Lott, who has no previous convictions, had not realised the seriousness of her offending and had been shocked when told about the possible sentences.

At the time she was on anti-depressants and is unlikely to ever re-offend.

Mr Holden added: “She has continued in her relationship with her husband.

"They have tried very hard to resurrect their relationship. He has been able to forgive her somewhat and he is present in court."