A NURSE faces being struck off – for rubbing the thighs of taxi drivers.
John McIlvenny took two cabs in Greenock, Inverclyde, and on both occasions rubbed the driver’s legs while making sexually explicit comments.
McIlvenny’s bizarre behaviour – while he was under the influence of alcohol and medication – first landed him in court and on the Sex Offenders’ Register.
And this week he was called before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Edinburgh to face claims he is unfit to practice.
McIlvenny was convicted in August last year under Section Three of the Sexual Offences Act Scotland 2009, and was given a Community Order
Robin Stephenson, chairman of the NMC panel said: “Mr McIlvenny was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, after leaving a public bar in the town centre.
“He rubbed the thighs of two taxi drivers, squeezing one of them, while making sexually explicit comments.
“He said that he was under the influence of alcohol and medication, and did not remember committing the offence until police arrived to question him the following day.”
McIlvenny, who works for the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board, was not present at the hearing but sent a statement.
He said that he was “deeply ashamed” of what had happened, adding that he was embarrassed and angry with himself.
Mr Stephenson said it had been proved that McIlvenny’s fitness to practice was impaired and he stated that the profession had been brought into disrepute by his conviction.
He added that the nurse had “severely damaged public trust in the profession” and his actions were “against the fundamental tenets of the code”.
McIlvenny had been “open and honest” with the panel, and that he had reported to them as soon as he was charged, said Mr Stephenson.
He also said there has been no past indiscretions on McIlvenny’s record since he began his nursing career in 1991.
McIlvenny had learned from what had happened and has taken steps to rectify his mistakes, such as enrolling in the “Moving forward, Making changes” programme, designed to help men who have committed sexual offences to reduce offending.
The NMC will now decide what sanction to impose.
