A 30-year-old nurse has received an immediate custodial sentence of 15 months at Southampton Crown Court after admitting to contaminating blood samples, using an unsterilised needle, and wilfully neglecting three young cancer patients in their homes.
Emma Sinclair, residing at Desborough Road, Eastleigh, appeared in the dock for sentence on Monday 3 November 2026 having previously entered formal guilty pleas to three counts of ill-treatment and wilful neglect in September.
The offences took place on 6 February 2024 while Sinclair was employed as a community nurse with Solent NHS Trust, which has since merged into the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust. Sinclair, an Australian national who relocated to the area in 2020 and joined the trust in 2023, was conducting clinical home visits across Southampton accompanied by a student nurse.
The court heard that Sinclair contaminated patient blood samples, utilised a dirty needle, and carried out procedures that inflicted acute physical pain on three teenage cancer patients under her professional care. The prosecution detailed how her misconduct deliberately disrupted medical regimens, resulting in delayed access to vital chemotherapy cycles for two of the children and causing severe physical distress to the third.
Sinclair entered guilty pleas to:
Three counts of ill-treatment and wilful neglect of an individual under care
Under UK statutory reporting restrictions protecting child victims and persons under 18 involved in criminal proceedings, all details capable of identifying the victims remain strictly prohibited from publication.
Sentencing Sinclair at Southampton Crown Court, His Honour Judge Peters condemned her conduct, stating:
“You have completely failed in your work as a trained nurse in the care of these children. You have lacked genuine remorse and have made numerous attempts to avoid responsibility for what had happened. This court cannot overlook the seriousness of this matter.”
The judge ordered Sinclair to serve an immediate prison sentence of 15 months.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a 10-year restraining order prohibiting Sinclair from making any form of contact with the victims.
Image – Offender Custody Photograph
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