Female NHS manager jailed for sexual assault on woman colleague

Female NHS manager jailed for sexual assault on woman colleague

A senior NHS manager has been jailed for subjecting a female colleague to a violent and humiliating sexual assault while the two women shared a hotel room.

23 Feb 2010

Teresa Cottingham, 35, used martial arts moves to incapacitate her younger victim during the drunken attack on the eve of a medical conference.



Jailed: Teresa Cottingham, former senior medical education manager at Sussex Partnership NHS Trust

Blackfriars Crown Court heard that Cottingham shouted "I'm better than a man" as she attempted to persuade the victim to accept her unwelcome sexual advances.

When rejected, the senior medical education manager at Sussex Partnership NHS Trust pulled off her colleague's clothing, grabbed the woman by the throat and performed a sex act upon her.

Judge Ian Karsten QC said he had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence for the "horrid attack", adding that Cottingham could expect no leniency because she was a woman.

"As sex assaults go I have to say it really is a bad case," he said.

The court heard that the two women had spent the evening drinking with fellow delegates at a pub in Baker Street, central London in January last year.

The victim, who cannot be named, agreed to escort Cottingham back to their twin room at the Premier Inn, Euston after the defendant became "almost senseless" with alcohol.

Adam Davis, for the prosecution, said: "Ms Cottingham asked the victim to make a cup of tea.

"The victim had her back to the defendant and it seems the defendant tried to pull her back onto the bed by the waistband of her shorts."

Cottingham ignored her colleague's protests and pulled the woman onto the bed, before tripping her with a move taken from Tai Kwon Do, the Korean martial art.

Mr Davis continued: "There was a certain amount of wrestling, with the complainant making it perfectly clear she didn't want to participate. Cottingham got more aggressive and forceful."

He added: "The victim was grabbed by the throat. She was pushed back and every time she tried to move, her throat was squeezed harder."

Cottingham then performed a non-consensual sex act on her victim before falling asleep, the court heard.

The defendant from Lewes in East Sussex, admitted sexual assault and denied assault by penetration, which was left to lie on the court file.

Sentencing her to 12 months in jail, Judge Karsten noted that the assault had "long-term serious effects" on the victim.

Cottingham was fired by Sussex Partnership, an NHS Trust based in Eastbourne which specialises in mental health problems and addiction, following her arrest a week after the assault.

Last night a spokesman for the trust said: "A soon as we were notified of this incident we took immediate action. We will not tolerate the abuse or assault of any patient or member of staff."

Cottingham, a mother-of-one, is now known as Mrs Chapman after marrying last week. Her husband wept in the public gallery as her sentence was read out on Monday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7293639/Female-NHS-manager-jailed-for-sexual-assault-on-woman-colleague.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253083/NHS-manager-bragged-I-better-man-jailed-12-months-lesbian-sex-attack.htm

How sickening