Prison nurse accused of three rapes ‘suspended from duty’

A MENTAL health nurse accused of raping three women prisoners was suspended from duty, a court heard yesterday.

Denise Allan, clinical manager at Cornton Vale prison in Stirling, was giving evidence at the trial of Peter Barrowman, who denies raping the women and supplying them with drugs between January 2014 and March 2014.

The 35-year-old also denies being concerned in the supply of dihydrocodeine and diazepam at the prison between January 2014 and March 2014.

Miss Allan, who is in charge of a team of nurses at the prison, told a jury at the High Court in Glasgow she took up her job in January 2014 and Barrowman was suspended soon afterwards.

She said the prison had since changed its stock control

‘Trade drugs for toiletries’

procedures for prescribed drugs. Previously, drugs would only be counted as they were being brought into the prison.

Miss Allan said: ‘Patients got their medicine but we didn’t count the tablets.’

Prosecutor Rosemary Guinnane asked: ‘So if there were tablets missing there was no record of that?’ Miss Allan replied: ‘No.’

Asked if drugs such as diazepam and dihydrocodeine and tablets meant to control pain or anxiety were used as currency within the prison, she replied: ‘Yes, they can trade them for tobacco and toiletries.’

The prosecutor then said: ‘We have also heard the drugs can be traded for cigarettes.’ Miss Allan replied: ‘Yes.’ The court heard Barrowman, from Stenhousemuir, Stirlingshire, was trained in providing therapy for patients who might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Miss Allan said these sessions were on a one-to-one basis with no guard escort.

She added: ‘There was a small glass window in the door of the room he used and he asked if a cover could be placed on the glass window because it was affecting his treatments.’

The trial, before Judge Sean Murphy, continues.