THE Isle of Wight NHS Trust has apologised and emphasised its zero tolerance approach to unwanted or harmful sexual behaviour within the workplace after a doctor sexually assaulted a cleaner at St Mary's Hospital.

A Portsmouth Crown Court judge spared Chiemedo Ikpo imprisonment, but handed him two years of probation, following a sexual assault on a woman in a cupboard at the Island hospital, sometime between December 31, 2019, and March 1, 2020.

The victim slammed the health service for allowing the 50 year old father-of-four to continue working at the hospital as he awaited trial, claiming he had been given more support over the incident than she had.

Ikpo was initially suspended, but was then allowed to work while waiting for his trial.

(Image: County Press) He was dismissed by the hospital after his conviction in June, more than four years after the incident.

Read more: St Mary's Hospital Isle of Wight doctor sexually assaulted cleaner

Ikpo had initially denied the matter, over several court appearances, before his eventual conviction.

In a statement from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, a spokesperson said: “We are extremely sorry one of our colleagues experienced unacceptable behaviour.

"When internal allegations were made in August 2020, an immediate exclusion was put in place and a formal investigation process followed. 

"Once that investigation concluded, Dr Ikpo returned to training in February 2021 and GMC conditions were placed on his registration, meaning his practice and all work was supervised."

The victim described the doctor as a 'predator' who 'took advantage' of her.

"In December 2023, we signed up to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, which outlines our commitment to taking and enforcing a zero tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace, and the core principles and actions we are putting in place to help achieve this," the NHS statement continued.

"We encourage staff to come forward and speak out, and we are committed to supporting those who do so and to enforcing a zero tolerance approach.

"The charges do not relate to the patient care provided and the individual has not worked for the organisation since March 2023.”

Ikpo, who trained at university in Nigeria, has now been suspended from the Medical Register and may not practise as a doctor in the UK, according to the General Medical Council.