An A&E nurse has been struck off after being convicted of groping the breasts of his female co-workers.

Adam Soothill began working in the emergency department at Royal Preston Hospital in 2011, but in March 2019, allegations were made against him by several members of staff.

These included inappropriate sexual behaviour, which involved touching, the flicking or touching of breasts, grabbing breasts, seven touching of naked breasts, and placing his hands between legs.

The assaults took place between 2017 and 2019 and as a result of the allegations, Soothill was suspended from work pending a police investigation.

Initially, he denied any wrongdoing but was charged with sexual assault on July 12 2021. Following this he was dismissed by the hospitals trust.

Soothill appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on August 15 2019, with his case being referred to the crown court where he entered not guilty pleas and was sent to trial.

On October 27 2021, Soothill was convicted of 24 counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to 30 months in prison, told to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely, and pay a surcharge of £170.

Following a hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) last month, it was agreed that Soothill be struck-off the nurses register.

A report from the NMC read: “Adam Soothill's criminal offending has so seriously undermined public trust and confidence in the profession.

“The criminal offending and subsequent sentence is fundamentally incompatible with being a registered professional nurse.

“Only a striking off order is sufficient to protect patients, maintain public confidence in the profession and maintain professional standards.”

The NMC report also provided some of the judges sentencing remarks, which included the following relevant comments: "You undoubtedly preyed on these women so often and in such a manner that you made their lives uncomfortable, miserable within the workplace, in several instances it got to a stage where some did not wish to come to work.

“In relation to one victim, you had only worked with her once and that was the occasion you sexually assaulted her.

“In relation to another, she was so distressed by what you had done, that she went to the sluice room and cried.

“You took advantage of the workplace situation...you had relied on the fact that these women would not want to complain or felt uneasy about complaining.

“The touching you indulged in was not only unwanted, but sexual. It was also harassment and bullying behaviour which is not acceptable in any workplace.

“You tried to pull the wool over the jury’s eyes hiding behind a jovial workplace exterior.

“In relation to the seven women who alleged incidents, which you absolutely denied, there was no room for mistake, they were not exaggerating, and they were not liars.

“As prosecution counsel pointed out, it is noteworthy that you only denied the more serious matters and it is noteworthy that your defence, in relation to two or three of your victims, changed as the evidence came out.”

An interim suspension order was handed to Soothill to give him time to appeal the sanction. Should no appeal be made, he will be struck-off with immediate effect.