Anaesthetist who stole drugs from NHS hospital for sex use jailed

A trainee anaesthetist who stole drugs from an NHS hospital to inject into his girlfriend during sex has been jailed for two years and one month.

Jonathon Dean drove from his home in Essex to Cambridge in 2018 with a host of drugs to use for "chemically enhanced sex", a court heard.

Dean, 32, and the woman had previously exchanged messages agreeing on the use of the drugs.

The judge said Dean enjoyed "being in a position of dominance and power".

In messages Dean, who worked at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, wrote to the woman: "Could have done anything to you - fine line between you not breathing and being unconscious."

Concerns were raised at the hospital within days as the woman involved presented to another hospital, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Duncan O'Donnell, prosecuting, said that Dean's relationship "involved high risk sexual intercourse using painkillers and other items".

The drugs involved were "commonly used in anaesthesia" and included morphine, he said.

Judge Philip Grey told Dean: "You stole anaesthetic drugs to get your sexual kicks. That was entirely clear from your messages at the time."

He said the offending was about "wanting chemically enhanced sex and being in a position of dominance and power".

The judge described Dean, of Poplar, east London, and previously of Epping in Essex, as "looking forward to playing God with those drugs".

The offending struck "at the heart of the trust that's placed" in the medical profession, the judge said.

Dean admitted at an earlier hearing to nine counts of the theft of drugs from Whipps Cross.

The drugs included cyclizine, ondansetron, propofol, midazolam and morphine and were said to have been stolen in a period on or before 14 December 2018 until 21 March this year.

The judge accepted one of the thefts of propofol was for "self-medication" and the court heard Dean used alcohol and drugs for his severe depression and anxiety.

Dean also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Mitigating for the defendant, his counsel Aisha Khan said: "The ultimate punishment is him not being able to work in this profession."

She said he was "intoxicated by the fantasy and excitement that was being offered" by his relationship with the woman.

The barrister described Dean as "a man who has suffered from addiction", and said he was "ashamed for what has occurred".

She said that he had apologised "unreservedly".

The judge also ordered needles and other medical items to be confiscated from Dean's home.

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