Care worker jailed for two rapes

A care worker who admitted raping two women, one of them a psychiatric hospital patient, has been sentenced to an indeterminate jail term.

John Mendy, 33, of Sandwich Road, Ramsgate, Kent, was told he must serve at least four-and-a-half years before being eligible for parole.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of rape at hearing at Canterbury Crown Court in May.

He will also be deported to Gambia when he is released from prison.

Mendy was charged with raping a female patient at St Martin's Hospital in Canterbury in November 2007.

He was also charged with raping a 39-year-old woman from Canterbury who was attacked in the early hours of 16 August 2007 after a night out in Margate.

I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the women in these cases Supt Chris Hogben

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust said Mendy was sacked when he pleaded guilty to the charges and would never be allowed to work in a care environment.

A statement said: "To prey on such a vulnerable victim is inexcusable."

It said the allegation against Mendy was brought to the attention of Kent Police as soon it came to light.

"We are sorry for the affect this incident has had on the victim," it added.

"Nobody should expect this to happen to them when being admitted to hospital."

The trust said the incident had had a huge impact on staff and an internal investigation had been conducted to see what lessons could be learnt.

Supt Chris Hogben said the sentence reflected the seriousness of Mendy's offences.

"I would like to pay tribute to the victims in these cases," he said.

"Without their bravery in coming forward to give evidence we are unlikely to have been able to secure such a positive conviction for a man who poses a serious risk to women."