Mental health nurse jailed for horrific sexual assault and rape of a 20-year-old patient

A mental health nurse has been jailed for sexual offences against a 20-year-old inpatient at a hospital where he worked.

Matthew Wharton, 37, was sentenced to four-and-a-half-years in prison for sexual offences on Thursday, December 12, following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police. Wharton, an agency mental health nurse working at Wythenshawe Hospital, was found guilty of sexually abusing his victim.

Police say that Wharton was found guilty of five counts of care worker engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a mentally disordered female and two counts of care worker engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a mentally disordered female. Earlier this year, the victim reported to a member of staff that she had been repeatedly raped by Wharton.

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Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was alerted and launched an investigation, said the force. Wharton also attempted to contact the victim on Instagram, although she did not respond to the request. A few days later he followed the victim from his Snapchat account, say GMP.

Wharton coerced the woman into a relationship where he took advantage of her and began sexually assaulting and raping her, said police. The offences were committed on the ward and at various locations he took her to off the ward.

Following the report to police, Wharton was arrested in May 2024 and was subsequently charged with offences related to section 38 under the sexual offences act. He was also issued a 10-year restraining order.

DC Chloe Stevens said: “I commend the victim for her bravery in reporting these offences to the police and trusting us to investigate. The