Care Worker Sentenced for Sexual Offences Against Vulnerable Patient
A care worker has been handed a prison sentence after engaging in sexual activity with a vulnerable patient at a mental health unit in Greater Manchester. Jack Burrows, a 35-year-old married father from Salford, was employed as a 'bank' care worker by NHS Professionals when he met the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Breach of Trust and Explicit Communications
The court heard that Burrows gave the patient his mobile number, knowingly breaking professional rules, and embarked on a relationship with her. He sent explicit messages discussing sexual encounters and even transmitted a photograph of his genitals to her device. The pair arranged to meet secretly, with sexual activity occurring twice while Burrows was escorting her from her ward—once in a yard and later on a grass verge.
Prosecutor Philip Barnes told Manchester Crown Court that Burrows was "well aware that the patients he was looking after were vulnerable" and suffering from mental health issues requiring inpatient treatment. The patient had been diagnosed with a personality disorder, heightening her vulnerability.
Discovery and Investigation
The relationship came to light when the patient confided in another staff member, admitting she had been "doing something really bad." When pressed, she identified Burrows as the individual involved. Examination of her phone revealed a string of messages between the pair, though Burrows had deleted all correspondence from his own device prior to police questioning—an action described by the prosecution as having an "obvious inference" of attempted concealment.
In a prepared statement, Burrows denied any sexual contact, claiming his phone had been used by someone else as a "drugs phone" and that messages were sent by a third party. However, the evidence presented in court contradicted this defence.
Impact on the Victim
In a victim personal statement read aloud in court, the woman described how Burrows abused his position of trust. "Jack was in a position of trust and should have been one of the people to look after me and care for me. Instead, he took advantage of how vulnerable I was," she stated. She expressed feeling anxious in medical settings, experiencing physical symptoms like shaking and panic, and harbouring anger over the betrayal.
The woman emphasised that the mental health unit should have been a "place of safety" for her, but Burrows' actions shattered that security.
Defence and Sentencing
Defence barrister Betsy Hindle acknowledged that Burrows had acted "irresponsibly, foolishly and quite frankly extremely stupidly." She noted that the defendant "did have feelings" for the woman and was remorseful and ashamed. Hindle also highlighted mitigating factors, including Burrows having no previous convictions, experiencing challenging personal times—such as a fire that caused his family to lose their home—and struggling with a cocaine habit that led to job losses in care work and subsequent warehouse employment.
However, Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Recorder of Manchester, underscored the gravity of the offences. "You provided your mobile and you knew that was wrong... because personal relationships in these circumstances are highly problematic when you are dealing with vulnerable individuals," he told Burrows.
Burrows pleaded guilty to two offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, specifically for being a care worker who engaged in sexual activity with a person with a mental health disorder. He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for ten years. As he was led from the dock, he waved to family members seated in the public gallery.
