Sex slave and the nurse’s Hepatitis C hell

Sep 13 2009 by Linda Richards, Sunday Sun

Prosecutor David Mayhew said Lee was given drugs to reverse the effect of the opiate abuse.

But when she was told she needed to go to hospital, she refused, demanded her prescription and when she was told she couldn’t have it, she became abusive and aggressive.

“She turned her head toward the nurse and spat directly into her mouth. Some entered her mouth and there was some on her lower lip,” said Mr Mayhew.

“The nurse was aware that Lee had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and of her drug abuse and it is not surprising she was immediately concerned about the possible consequences of the saliva having entered her mouth.

“She rinsed her mouth out immediately. Lee was taken to the ambulance and as a consequence of the incident the nurse went to the A&E at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for her blood to be taken for a 12-week screening programme to see if she had become infected.”

Mr Mayhew said in a victim impact statement, the nurse said the unprovoked attack had left her extremely upset and worried.

“She said she has assisted Lee for the past six months supporting her welfare and needs and she said she was really very upset that she could act in this manner and treat any of the staff in that manner,” he said.

“In particular she was concerned she might have contracted the infection and was on waiting time for 12 weeks to find out if she had any infection as a result of Lee’s actions.

“She said it had a major impact on herself and her family.”

Michael Gibson, Lee’s solicitor, said she had initially denied the assault but changed her plea to guilty.

“During the course of the incident she became unconscious and paramedics were sent for. They gave her medication to bring her around, and she came around in a room surrounded by people dazed and confused,” he said.

“She had a medical device in her mouth helping her breathe. She had liquid in her mouth and spat it out. She accepts she was reckless because she was bound to hit someone.

“It was very unfortunate. She has no hard feelings towards the nurse and she accepts that she would be upset and concerned about the consequences of this reckless act.”

He told JPs Lee’s life has been blighted by tragedy, but her book, which may be turned into a movie, could change things for the better.