Sex attack accused nurse is finally set to face trial

A PROTRACTED prosecution of a former Greenock psychiatric nurse charged with sexually assaulting vulnerable patients in 2016 is set to finally reach its trial stage before Christmas.

The case against Graham Davis has been beset with delays, including a bid by his lawyers more than a year ago to have the matter thrown out.

Davis, 51, is said to have groped one woman after turning up unannounced at her home.

He is also accused of inappropriately touching another patient within the mental health services unit at Crown House, pictured.

Prosecutors — who had marked the case as a ‘priority’ — say that he went on to target a female colleague at the Langhill Clinic, as well as another patient within her home.

Davis is facing a total of six charges spanning a timeframe of nearly two years, from January 1 in 2016 to November 30, 2017.

A sheriff was told in September last year that Davis may have had an absolute defence under Section 51a of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act.

The legislation states: ‘A person is not criminally responsible for conduct constituting an offence, and is to be acquitted of the offence, if the person was at the time of the conduct unable by reason of mental disorder to appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of the conduct.’

Matters were delayed four months previously after Davis’s lawyers won an adjournment on health grounds.

They told Greenock Sheriff Court that he had suffered a heart attack, followed by a stroke, and argued that his cognitive abilities may have been impaired as a result. However, Davis attended a recent calling of the case and was told the trial will proceed next month.

Fiscal depute John Penman said of the delays last year: “These are very serious allegations and it is frustrating from my point of view, and from the Crown witnesses’ point of view.

“They are vulnerable witnesses.”

The case is now due to call again on December 6, ahead of a trial scheduled for December 13.