Nurse struck off for groping women at work

A NURSE has been struck off after groping women.

Andrew Lauder, 55, was banned from working because he “couldn’t resist” slapping women’s bottoms and manhandling them.

A Nurses and Midwifery Council hearing was told the “serial groper” was jailed last year after being found guilty of seven counts of sexual assault.

NMC panel chairwoman Deborah Jones said Lauder’s name would be struck off the nursing register – saying there was a risk of him repeating his behaviour on his release.

She said: “The panel has seen no evidence of remediation or insight.

“Further, the panel noted that Mr Lauder continues to deny his guilt as he states, ‘Whilst I have no option but to accept the outcome of the case of the guilty verdict passed I maintain my innocence of the charges.’

“In these circumstances, the panel concluded that there is a risk that Mr Lauder may repeat such behaviour.”

Lauder, from Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan, was jailed for two years and nine months after being found guilty of fondling four women and making “lewd and crude comments” to them.

His trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard he would also “growl” at his victims and grab his crotch towards other nurses on his ward.

Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones said at the trial: “He just simply cannot keep his hands to himself. He cannot resist groping other women.

“One of his victims was in an office and Lauder smacked her bottom.

“Another time he told her she had nice breasts and stuck his hands down her top and fondled her breasts.

“On one occasion he grabbed her hair and pushed her head down towards his groin.

“On another occasion they were in a small room – he turned the lights off and grabbed her and bent her over in front of him.

“It is crude behaviour and acceptable in this day and age.” not