Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Pervert, 83, ‘sorry’ as he gets probation order
A FORMER nurse was yesterday handed a twoyear probation order for indecently assaulting a teenage male patient.
Charles Watson, 83, from Co Down, had pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse on dates between December 1984 and January 1987.
Belfast Crown Court heard the victim had been referred to the Genito Urinary Medicines unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital after contracting a sexual transmitted disease.
Judge Gordon Kerr was told that during a testing procedure the clinical nursing supervisor sexually assaulted the 16-year-old for around three minutes.
The teenager was later referred back to the same unit after contracting another disease and was abused again by Watson. A prosecution lawyer said: “He knew what was being done to him was wrong but it was not until 1998 that he told a close friend.”
In 2005 after contracting another STD the victim was referred back to the GUM unit and tested by a different nurse but no sexual assault took place.
The court heard that in September 2016 the victim got work doing repairs at a house in Holywood and realised the owner was the nurse who had assaulted him two decades previously.
A lawyer said that victim “confronted” Watson about the sexual abuse and the defendant replied: “I agree.”
A defence barrister said the accused, from Carlston Avenue, was “genuinely remorseful”, adding: “We accept that this is a breach of trust case.”
The lawyer said Watson was a homosexual who had to hide his sexuality in his early years as it was illegal.
He added the defendant had been in a relationship with his partner for more than 50 years.
The court heard Watson had worked in the health service for 30 years and had a clear record.
As a result of his guilty plea, it was revealed Watson had to resign from his voluntary work with his church.
Judge Kerr said it was a “serious case” of historical sexual abuse and another aggravating factor was the age difference between the defendant and complainant.
The court heard Watson, who was also made the subject of a notification period for five years, was assessed as being a low risk of reoffending.
But he was told if does not follow the probation officer’s recommendations he will be resentenced.
BELFAST YESTERDAY