Midwife convicted of assaulting pregnant woman avoids jail
Midwife convicted of assaulting pregnant woman during procedure to induce birth avoids jail
- Jennifer Gaisford, who was not woman’s usual midwife, assaulted woman in 2021
- She was found guilty of assault by a jury but was cleared of sexual assault
A midwife convicted of assaulting a pregnant woman during a procedure to induce birth has avoided jail.
Jennifer Gaisford, 52, was performing a sweep procedure – which is carried out to artificially start labour – on the woman in September 2021 when she assaulted her.
The incident, which happened in Chippenham, Wiltshire, was described as ‘a prolonged assault targeting a vulnerable woman’.
Gaisford, who was not the woman’s usual midwife, had initially denied both charges of sexual assault and assault on the same pregnant woman.
A jury later found Gaisford – who became a registered midwife in September 1996 – guilty of the assault charge but not guilty of sexual assault.
At Swindon Crown Court on Thursday, Gaisford was spared jail and instead handed a 12-month community order which includes 120 hours of unpaid work.
Jennifer Gaisford (leaving Swindon Crown Court), 52, was performing a sweep procedure – which is carried out to artificially start labour – on the woman in September 2021 when she assaulted her
At Swindon Crown Court (pictureD) on Thursday, Gaisford was spared jail and instead handed a 12-month community order which includes 120 hours of unpaid work
She must also carry out 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Sentencing Gaisford, Judge James Townsend said: ‘Your initial and detailed defence is that you were carrying out the stimulation as you had read it during research.
‘The evidence you gave during the witness box is not true.
‘The effect of what you did on your patient is undoubtedly very serious, she was very vulnerable and had previous problems with a previous pregnancy.
‘You are of previous good character and you worked for many years as a midwife without a blemish on your record.
‘You took steps which were obviously capable of causing stress.’
Gaisford’s defence barrister, Andrew Taylor, spoke of her good character while addressing Judge Townsend.
He said the defendant has no previous convictions and added: ‘This is a woman who dedicated years of her life to helping the NHS.’
When referring to the 52-year-old’s colleagues, Mr Taylor said: ‘They speak in glowing terms of Jennifer Gaisford.’
‘There were lots of things going on in her life, her mother was very seriously ill.’
Source: Read Full Article