Doctor Jonathon Dean, 32, of Poplar, east
London, pictured at an earlier hearing (Image: Joe Giddens/ PA)
BREAKING crime updates and news from the courts More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Breaking crime updates and news from the courts Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice A trainee anaesthetist who stole drugs from the NHS hospital he worked to use during sex has been jailed. Jonathon Dean worked at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London. The 32-year-old wrote to his Cambridge-based girlfriend: "Could have done anything to you – fine line between you not breathing and being unconscious." He added: "Good thing I'm a decent anaesthetist. Would f*** you senseless." Judge Philip Grey read out some of Dean's messages during sentencing on Friday (April 5). He told Dean: "You stole anaesthetic drugs to get your sexual kicks. That was entirely clear from your messages at the time." Read next: Cambridge hit by even more burglaries with
police stepping up patrols Read next: Police looking for this man in connection to Cambridge stabbing that left man in hospital He said the offending was about "wanting chemically enhanced sex and being in a position of dominance and power". The judge described Dean, of Poplar, east London, as someone who was "looking forward to playing God with those drugs", adding that the offences struck "at the heart of the trust that's placed" in the medical profession. Prosecutor Duncan O'Donnell said Dean "had formed a consensual sexual relationship with a young woman – I don't see it necessary to name her in open court". He said: "That relationship involved high-risk sexual intercourse using painkillers and other items." Dean stole drugs commonly used in anaesthesia Mr O'Donnell said: "The case begins with the events of December 14, 2018, when the defendant drove to Cambridge from his home address in Epping (in Essex). He took with him an assortment of drugs commonly used in anaesthesia including morphine. These are drugs to which he had access to at his
Job at Whipps Cross. "He took the drugs so he could inject them into the young woman as part of an agreed activity. It seems concerns were raised within days to the medical director of Whipps Cross Hospital as the young woman had presented herself to another hospital." The barrister said that, in messages seen by police, Dean had written "could have done anything to you", and "could put a canula on you and do whatever I want". Dean admitted at an earlier hearing to nine counts of the theft of drugs from Whipps Cross Hospital. Five of the counts, concerning the theft of the drugs cyclizine, ondansetron, propofol, midazolam, and morphine occurred on or before December 14, 2018. Three of the counts involving cyclizine, ondansetron, and morphine reportedly happened on or before January 28, 2019. The ninth count of theft, this time of propofol, was said to have happened between January 21 and March 21 2023. The judge said he accepted that it was taken for "self-medication". He said Dean had been placed on administrative duties following an investigation but was still able to use his swipe card in 2023. It was finally deactivated after it was identified that he had taken the drugs. The judge noted that Dean had "suffered from severe depression and anxiety" and chose to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. He added: "You knew full well where to go for help and you did not do so." 'I cannot undo what I have done' Dean also admitted to two counts of possessing a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. One count was for possession of class A drug morphine on January 28, 2019, and the other for class C midazolam on December 14, 2018. Aisha Khan, representing Dean, said: "The ultimate punishment is him not being able to work in this profession." She said he was "intoxicated by the fantasy and excitement that was being offered" through his relationship with the woman. Describing Dean as "a man who has suffered from addiction", she said he felt "ashamed for what has occurred". She said that he had apologised "unreservedly" in a letter to the judge, parts of which she read out. In one section, he wrote that he "cannot undo what I have done... what I can do is apologise – I do so unreservedly". He added: "I let a lot of people down and brought shame on myself and my profession." The judge sentenced Dean to 25 months in
prison and ordered the confiscation of needles and other medical items from his home. Dean was escorted from the secure dock to the cells after the judge delivered his sentence. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow CambridgeLive
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