Anaesthetist jailed for stealing drugs for chemsex

A trainee anaesthetist who stole drugs from the NHS hospital where he worked so he could inject his girlfriend with them during sex has been jailed.

Jonathon Dean stole drugs including morphine from Whipps Cross Hospital, in Leytonstone, east London, in December 2018 and told the woman he “could have done anything” to her.

Sentencing Dean, Judge Philip Grey said the 32-year-old was “playing God”.

Dean, from Poplar, was jailed for two years and one month.

Judge 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”.

He said that the offending struck “at the heart of the trust that’s placed” in the medical profession.

Duncan O’Donnell, prosecuting, said Dean “had formed a consensual sexual relationship” with the woman.

“That relationship involved high risk sexual intercourse using painkillers and other items.”

Concerns were raised to the medical director of Whipps Cross Hospital when the young woman presented herself to another hospital.

Dean admitted at an earlier hearing to nine counts of the theft of drugs, including cyclizine, ondansetron, propofol, midazolam and morphine.

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

Mr O’Donnell said Dean had been placed on administrative duties following an investigation, but he was still able to use his swipe card in 2023 – which was finally deactivated after it was identified that he had taken the drugs.

In defence, Aisha Khan said: “The ultimate punishment is him not being able to work in this profession.”

She said her client 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” in a letter to the judge, and she read some of this out.

In one part, he wrote that he “cannot undo what I have done… what I can do is apologise – I do so unreservedly.

“I let a lot of people down and brought shame on myself and my profession.”

The judge jailed Dean for 25 months and ordered that needles and other medical items from his home be confiscated.

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