Zimbabwean Care Worker Jailed in UK After Being Caught Having Sex With A Mentally ill Patient
A 57-year-old Zimbabwean healthcare assistant, Nelson Ncube, has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of engaging in s£xual activity with a mentally ill patient under his care.
Ncube, who lived in Highwoods, Colchester, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday, where he admitted to two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder while acting as a care worker.
The offences occurred between late 2020 and early 2023 at a secure mental health facility in Colchester, where Ncube was employed. The court was told that the victim, a woman detained under the Mental Health Act, was acutely unwell at the time of the abuse.
According to the prosecution, Ncube worked 12-hour shifts and was responsible for monitoring the woman, whose room was located next to the nurses’ station and under camera surveillance. However, he exploited blind spots in the hospital’s layout — including storage areas and patient toilets — to commit the offences.
The abuse began with inappropriate touching and later escalated to sexual acts. The court also heard that Ncube and the victim exchanged explicit photographs during the period of misconduct.
In a victim impact statement, the woman described suffering severe emotional trauma after being manipulated and assaulted by someone she trusted for care and protection.
Ncube, who had no previous criminal record, was described by the court as having abused his position of authority and trust. Judge’s remarks emphasized that the offences were a gross violation of professional ethics and caused lasting psychological harm to the victim.
