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Former Broadmoor nurse gets two years in prison for selling stories to tabloids Former Broadmoor nurse gets two years in prison for selling stories to tabloids
(about 4 hours later)
A mental-health nurse at Broadmoor high security hospital has been jailed for two years for selling stories about some of Britain’s most notorious killers, to the News of the World and Mirror newspapers. A mental health nurse at Broadmoor high security hospital has been jailed for two years for selling stories about some of Britain’s most notorious killers to the News of the World and Mirror newspapers.
Kenneth Hall, 49, sold a string of stories to the tabloids, including tales about Robert Ashman, who attacked an MP and killed his assistant with a samurai sword. Andrew Pennington died after he was stabbed six times as he tried to protect the Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones in his constituency office, in January 2000. Kenneth Hall, 49, sold a string of stories to the tabloids, including tales about Robert Ashman, who attacked an MP and killed his assistant with a samurai sword. Andrew Pennington died after he was stabbed six times as he tried to protect the Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones in his constituency office in January 2000.
Hall also sold stories about killers suing the NHS and forged documents to beef up his tales, London’s Old Bailey heard. As well as working as a mental health nurse at the hospital which houses some of Britain’s most dangerous serial killers, Hall was responsible for some of the security at the institution.Hall also sold stories about killers suing the NHS and forged documents to beef up his tales, London’s Old Bailey heard. As well as working as a mental health nurse at the hospital which houses some of Britain’s most dangerous serial killers, Hall was responsible for some of the security at the institution.
He pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office between 29 June 2002 and 6 October 2004, and one count of forgery.He pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office between 29 June 2002 and 6 October 2004, and one count of forgery.
The court heard how Hall first sold stories to a freelance reporter who often worked for the News Of The World, called Anna Gekoski. He later also made contact with a reporter at the Mirror. He used his privileged position as a nurse to disclose confidential information to newspapers, making thousands of pounds for himself. The court heard how Hall first sold stories to a freelance reporter who often worked for the News Of The World called Anna Gekoski. He later also made contact with a reporter at the Mirror. He used his privileged position as a nurse to disclose confidential information to newspapers, making thousands of pounds for himself.
Prosecutor Stuart Biggs said Hall, of Bridgwater, Somerset, had knowingly breached his work code of conduct, which expressly stated that he was not to disclose information about patients to the media. He added: “Mr Hall knew from the outset that what he was doing was a serious matter, and was in direct breach of the short code of conduct.”Prosecutor Stuart Biggs said Hall, of Bridgwater, Somerset, had knowingly breached his work code of conduct, which expressly stated that he was not to disclose information about patients to the media. He added: “Mr Hall knew from the outset that what he was doing was a serious matter, and was in direct breach of the short code of conduct.”
When arrested, Hall accepted he had forged a number of documents, saying: “You just fabricate, make it up, do a letter – they can’t go to Broadmoor and verify it, can they?”When arrested, Hall accepted he had forged a number of documents, saying: “You just fabricate, make it up, do a letter – they can’t go to Broadmoor and verify it, can they?”
Biggs said: “He explained that the desire for money was coupled with his frustration at the way in which Broadmoor ‘mollycoddled murderers, rapists and paedophiles’.”Biggs said: “He explained that the desire for money was coupled with his frustration at the way in which Broadmoor ‘mollycoddled murderers, rapists and paedophiles’.”
“The paper was duped to an extent – great extent, the people referred to are of course done a disservice, the institution is done a great disservice, and the public who were forced to receive information that is entirely false information, the journalist taking it on its face (value) because it appeared to come from a source within the institution itself,” he continued. “The paper was duped to an extent – great extent, the people referred to are of course done a disservice, the institution is done a great disservice, and the public who were forced to receive information that is entirely false information, the journalist taking it on its face [value] because it appeared to come from a source within the institution itself,” he continued.
The court also heard how Hall “was both providing care and treatment to patients with mental health illnesses and personality disorders” when he sold the stories.The court also heard how Hall “was both providing care and treatment to patients with mental health illnesses and personality disorders” when he sold the stories.
Sentencing him, Judge Timothy Pontius said there had been a “grave breach of trust”, adding: “The trust not only of the public, but of course that of the patients themselves, many of them suffering from extremely serious mental illness which led to their detention in hospital for very many years.”Sentencing him, Judge Timothy Pontius said there had been a “grave breach of trust”, adding: “The trust not only of the public, but of course that of the patients themselves, many of them suffering from extremely serious mental illness which led to their detention in hospital for very many years.”
He added that although that in itself would have constituted “an appalling offence of its kind that could be imagined”, it was made worse by the fact that his offending continued after he left the hospital.He added that although that in itself would have constituted “an appalling offence of its kind that could be imagined”, it was made worse by the fact that his offending continued after he left the hospital.
Pontius said that although some of the patients had committed the gravest of crimes that gained notoriety in the public, they were still entitled to professional care and a respect for their privacy. He said Hall could not viably justify what he did by claiming it was “altruistic whistle-blowing”, because his offending continued after his employment ended.Pontius said that although some of the patients had committed the gravest of crimes that gained notoriety in the public, they were still entitled to professional care and a respect for their privacy. He said Hall could not viably justify what he did by claiming it was “altruistic whistle-blowing”, because his offending continued after his employment ended.
The court heard that he made £23,800 from selling stories, continuing to feed his contacts fake stories even after he had stopped working at Broadmoor.The court heard that he made £23,800 from selling stories, continuing to feed his contacts fake stories even after he had stopped working at Broadmoor.
Hall’s wife, Karen, who was also a nurse at Broadmoor, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the commissioning of the offence by allowing money she knew her husband got through the sale of stories, into her account. Last month, she was handed a five-month jail sentence suspended for one year.Hall’s wife, Karen, who was also a nurse at Broadmoor, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the commissioning of the offence by allowing money she knew her husband got through the sale of stories, into her account. Last month, she was handed a five-month jail sentence suspended for one year.