Sex assault victim had called accused nice - court

A woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a trainee healthcare worker previously described him as a "really nice man", a court has heard.

The woman alleged in a statement Ieuan Crump, 26, of Gilfach, Caerphilly county, assaulted her while attempting to insert a catheter in the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran, Torfaen in August 2021.

Cardiff Crown Court also heard from a second alleged victim, who was a patient at the same time at the hospital, who claimed Mr Crump touched her intimately while carrying out a bladder scan.

The defendant denies nine counts of sexual assault, including three allegations of assault by penetration.

The first woman came on to the ward after having her appendix removed and the court heard that a female nurse and Mr Crump discussed inserting a catheter to drain her bladder.

But after the nurse failed to insert the catheter, Mr Crump allegedly attempted to insert the catheter and touched her intimately and said "Can you feel that?"

The witness inferred that the female nurse was present throughout and made no comment to stop or correct Mr Crump but under re-examination the woman told her barrister, Matthews Roberts, that she was alone with Mr Crump when he attempted to insert her catheter.

The woman also said she was assaulted again by the defendant when he scanned her bladder three days later, and he again touched her intimately without wearing gloves.

She agreed that in her first interview with the police she made no complaint about the first two bladder scans carried out by Mr Crump.

The woman had made a separate complaint about another nurse, who she believed had not given her enough painkillers during her hospital stay.

The jury also heard a video recording of a police interview with the second alleged victim who received treatment for a bowel condition on the same ward that week.

She described in detail how the defendant assaulted her while carrying out a bladder scan.

The woman said he came back about half an hour to an hour later, saying he needed to do another scan.

She said Mr Crump touched her breasts and asked if she was pregnant, before he then reached around and touched her bottom.

The woman said she was in a lot of pain at the time so she screamed, then Mr Crump swore and a nurse came in.

The woman refused to be examined for a second time by Mr Crump.

In its opening statement the day before, the prosecution drew attention to the similarities in the accounts of the two witnesses, both women who were patients at the same time at the hopsital.

Mr Crump denies nine counts of sexual assault, including three allegations of sexual assault by penetration.

The trial continues.