Hucknall nurse jailed for flouting court orders with job application

Paul Nyatsuro's application to be a support worker for Sun Healthcare, which provides care for people with autism, was flagged up by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in August, last year.

He now has a potential 46-week prison sentence hanging over his head, said prosecutor Sanjay Jerath.

The court heard he was struck off from the Nursing and Midwife Council register, in 2017, but he failed to inform two private nursing agencies when he applied for work in July and January 2018.

In January 2020 he received a 26-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and in September 2020, a 20-week sentence, suspended for 12 months.

"It will be apparent there is a common thread to these offences," said Mr Jerath. "On three separate occasions he has continued to attempt to work in these fields.

"The court has taken each one seriously and he is now in breach of two suspended prison sentences."

Frank Sheeran, mitigating, said Nyatsuro was originally barred for three years, after an allegation was made against him by a patient.

"At the time his wife and daughter were unwell. He couldn't attend the hearing and he was barred.

"He is in the process of challenging the original decision. He feels that allegation was not correct.

"He has held his hands up. He understands he could go to prison for a significant period of time, leaving his daughters and wife."

The court heard Zimbabwean-born Nyatsuro came to the UK when he was 19. He is through to the regional finals of a competition for designing a healthcare product and is working with unemployed young adults.

“This process has been a real test to his character,” said Mr Sheeran.

Nyatsuro, 42, of Versailles Gardens, Hucknall, admitted the offence under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court, on Friday.

Magistrates couldn’t find a reason not to activate the suspended sentences, but reduced them “because of the good progress he has made with the the probation service”. He was jailed for 12 weeks, and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

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