Trial of sex assault accused nurse hears from patient

A WOMAN has told a court how she was left ‘terrified’ following appointments with a former psychiatric nurse accused of sexually assaulting patients and a colleague in Greenock.

Graham Davis, 53, faces several charges of allegedly targeting four women between January 2016 and December 2017 during his employment at Crown House, pictured, on the town’s King Street.

One of the women told a part-heard trial that she had three appointments with David at a time when she was ‘suicidal’ and ‘desperate for help’.

Davis is accused of sexually assaulting one patient in 2016 by attending her home unannounced, touching her clothing, making inappropriate comments to her, embracing her and touching and rubbing her buttocks.

It is further alleged that Davis, on a separate occasion in 2016, sat close to the woman, place his hand on her bare thigh, attempted to kiss her, seized hold of her and touched her body and breasts.

She told the court that she was nervous about receiving a visit from a male community psychiatric nurse and therefore had her mother present during the first appointment at her home in July 2016.

A second appointment was arranged for one week later - with it being agreed that the woman’s mother would be in attendance again - but Davis allegedly returned ‘a day or two’ earlier instead.

The witness explained that she ushered Davis to sit on a sofa opposite from her before he moved to position himself next to her.

She told the court that he placed his hand on her bare thigh and that the discussion eventually turned to her sex life as well as Davis’ own.

The woman said: “I was wondering if this was just protocol. When Graham mentioned his sex life is when I really felt uncomfortable.

“He was sitting very close to me. I was terrified.

“His body language to me seemed like he was just about to progress further than holding on to my leg.

“He was sitting pressed up against me. He had his hand on my thigh, just constantly staring into my eyes.”

The witness later described a moment when Davis hugged her before leaving the property, in which his hand ‘slid down on to her breasts’. She added: “I was shaking. I needed my mum.” The alleged victim also spoke of a separate occasion when Davis returned to her home in an unplanned visit.

She said: “Nothing happened until he was leaving. He actually leaned in for what I believe was to kiss me on my mouth.

“He leaned in with his face rather than his arms or his torso. I just didn’t return the hug.

“He ran his hands down my back to my bum. My arms were by my side.

“I just needed him out the house. I was scared.”

The witness agreed with defence solicitor David Nicholson’s suggestion that her mental condition impacted her ability to ‘function’ and ‘think clearly’ at the time of the alleged incidents.

She denied, however, that it affected her ability to ‘observe and interpret situations’.

Asked if she had been able to engage with mental health services since, she said: “No. I have never to this day.”

Sheriff David Pender adjourned the trial until May 20.