Nurse jailed for 28 months for having an affair with a psychiatric patient and getting pregnant for him

A hospital worker has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a psychiatric patient under her care.

The woman, identified as Lydia-May Green, 30, developed a relationship with the patient that lasted for about eight months and later resulted in a pregnancy.

The court heard that Green first met the patient while working at the psychiatric hospital, where she was initially on a student placement in 2021.

She later qualified as a nurse in 2024. Over time, the patient reportedly became one of her favourites, and they began spending more time together.

Their relationship progressed outside the hospital, with Green meeting him during her time off while he was on day release. From May 2024, she booked hotel stays in Bristol and Wales, where they continued the relationship.

During the hearing, it was revealed that the relationship may have caused the patient “substantial psychological harm” and could have delayed his chances of being discharged.

The court was also shown photos and videos found on Green’s phone, which confirmed the nature of their relationship. Investigators said the material included intimate moments of the pair together.

The patient, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 for a serious offence. In 2020, he was detained under the Mental Health Act and transferred to a psychiatric facility.

In February 2024, he contacted Green on Instagram, expressing his feelings for her. At the time, Green was in a relationship, which later ended.

By late 2024, Green discovered she was pregnant and informed the patient, who reportedly reacted positively. However, the court heard that she later suffered a miscarriage and shared details of it with him.

Green ended the relationship on New Year’s Eve and wrote him a farewell letter. Days later, on January 10, 2025, the patient reported the relationship to hospital staff and showed them evidence.

The situation led to an investigation, during which it was revealed that Green had also attempted to delete some material from her phone. She was arrested on January 30 and later interviewed again in April.

Prosecutor William Eaglestone told the court that the patient has autism, ADHD, and schizoaffective disorder, making him particularly vulnerable. Medical evidence presented by Dr Hannah Toogood stated that the relationship caused the patient distress and negatively affected his recovery and rehabilitation.

Defence lawyer Thomas Stanway argued that the relationship was not coercive and that the patient had pursued Green. He said she had shown remorse and accepted that her actions were inappropriate.

He also told the court that Green had been working long, demanding shifts in a high-risk ward and was struggling at the time, which contributed to her poor decisions.

Judge Moira MacMillan, while delivering the sentence, found Green guilty of breaching professional boundaries. She had earlier pleaded guilty to seven charges of engaging in sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder between February and October 2024.

Share