THE NHS Trust which manages Whiston Hospital said it was "horrified" by the actions of an employee who raped a patient 12 days into the job.

As the Star reported previously, Sidharth Nair, 28, of no fixed address, attacked the woman in her bed at Whiston Hospital on the evening of January 30 this year.

The victim was an inpatient in the hospital at the time of the attack, with Nair one of the healthcare workers helping with her care.

Nair pleaded guilty to rape and four counts of sexual assault and was sentenced this week at Liverpool Crown Court to 13 years in prison.

READ > Man escaped police custody while outside hospital

A spokesperson for Merseyside and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Whiston and St Helens hospitals, has expressed "shock" at the attack, and said all necessary checks, including an enhanced DBS, had been completed ahead of the start of Nair's employment.

A spokesperson for the Trust said: "Our thoughts are with the victim, whose trust was betrayed in our hospital.

"We have been shocked and horrified by the behaviour of the individual.  

"At the time of the offence, he had been employed at the Trust for a period of 12 days.

"Prior to his employment all checks were completed in line with national NHS Employment Check Standards, with enhanced DBS and the required police checks also completed. There were no concerns raised about previous conduct."

Whiston HospitalWhiston Hospital (Image: Stock)

They added: “The Trust has worked closely with Merseyside Police through the entire process to ensure the matter could be fully and properly investigated.

“As soon as we were made aware of the charges he was immediately dismissed.”