A DOCTOR spoke of his relief last night (FRI NOV 2) after being cleared of indecently touching a “vulnerable” female patient on an unauthorised home visit.

Emmanuel Ikechukwu Kanu spoke after the 14-month burden was lifted, following the alleged incident at the home of a female patient he previously treated at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Dr Kanu, an accident and emergency psychiatric locum at the time, saw to the 43-year-old woman when she was admitted to the hospital after taking an overdose of tablets, in late August last year.

She was said to have been in an emotional turmoil in the aftermath of a marriage break-up.

During the course of his trial, at Durham Crown Court this week, the jury was told that Dr Kanu was given the woman’s mobile phone number, although this was not conventional practice in such circumstances.

He returned to his regular duties at Melrose Community Hospital, in the Scottish Borders, during the following days, but learned that the woman he had treated at Darlington had been released home, on Thursday September 1, and spoke to her on the phone to check how she was faring.

When he was next due to do a shift at Darlington, on Saturday September 3, he said he would call to see her at home before he started work at the hospital.

Dr Kanu said he had told his wife that he was going to see the patient as he was surprised she had been released because she lived alone and had no immediate support.

Asked why he had gone to see the patient at home, when it was not recommended practice, he told the court he felt he had, “a duty of care” to the woman, and that in a previous case he had helped to save a patient while making a home visit.

The court heard that while at the woman’s home she had become emotional and he had hugged her.

She claimed he squeezed her breast as he hugged her over her dressing gown, but he said he merely squeezed her shoulder shortly before leaving.

The incident was reported in coming days, and he was arrested and interviewed, on September 14.

Dr Kanu, 34, of Chiefswood Road, Melrose, denied a charge of sexual assault.

Following only a few minutes’ deliberation on the fifth day of his trial, yesterday (FRI), the jury returned a unanimous ‘not guilty’ verdict.

Dr Kanu wept in the dock and thanked jury members as they left court.

Discharging him, Judge Penny Moreland made a defendants’ costs order in his favour.

Dr Kanu, who has been on restricted duties since his arrest, said it was a “big relief”, but added that he still has to conclude disciplinary proceedings with the General Medical Council.