Jill McLaren, the Greenock Sexual Assault nurse at a mental health facility, who initiated sexual contact with a patient, evaded incarceration today.
Jill McLaren, 37, engaged in clandestine meetings with an individual she was acquainted with from the secure facility in Glasgow where she was employed.
This involved her bringing him to her residence under the pretence of a chaperoned Christmas shopping excursion.
Jill McLaren admitted to participating in sexual intercourse with the man when appearing in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The criminal activity occurred from July 2018 until September 2019.
Prosecutors acknowledged not guilty pleas on analogous accusations of her involvement with two additional patients at the facility.
Jill McLaren, from Greenock, Inverclyde, was sentenced to 180 hours of community service and placed under supervision for 18 months.
She was subjected to electronic monitoring for five months, restricting her movements indoors from 9 PM to 6 AM, Sunday through Friday.
Sheriff Gerard Considine additionally indicated that the restriction of liberty order will not be enforced on Saturdays, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Eve, as Jill McLaren is a mother of two.
The sheriff said, “There is no doubt this was a gross breach of trust. The law protects people suffering from mental disorders – such conduct was wrong.
“You used a false name to contact him, which is an aggravating feature, as was the location and the time involved.
“I accept that you have shown remorse and understand that such relationships with someone with a mental disorder are unlawful.
“The deterioration in his mental health was significant at the end of the relationship.
“At the time, your own mental health was fragile, and you have since been diagnosed.
“This was such that you should not have been working with people with complex mental needs with your own needs at the time.
“You have been publicly humiliated.”
Jill McLaren was also put on the sex offenders register for 18 months.
The court earlier heard how the nurse and the man started frequently chatting about their shared love for fitness.
She then told him she started a shift on his ward in order to “see him”, and they began to flirt with each other.
Fiscal Lauren Donnelly said: “She went to get chocolates (in the unit) and he followed her. They began kissing in the cupboard.”
The pair agreed that if Jill McLaren wished to speak to him outside of the clinic, she should use a different name.
The man was woken up by the nurse one evening during a night shift as she shone a flashlight into his face.
They again went on to kiss before she carried out a sex act in his bedroom.
The court heard Jill McLaren also bought a birthday card for the man.
It read: “Have a great day, wish I could speak to you, half love you ha ha xx”.
Jill McLaren went on to go with him on an outing for him to apparently buy Christmas gifts.
But they instead ended up at her house, where further sexual contact occurred.
The man’s mother became suspicious of a relationship between the pair and was worried for her son.
However, she did not report the matter as there was a possibility he would be moved to a less secure unit.
Jill McLaren left her permanent post at the unit in August 2019 to start another role.
But, she still took several shifts at the clinic and, during one, an argument took place after Jill McLaren suddenly ended the relationship.
However, Jill McLaren later sent another card to the man with “I miss you” written on the front.
The message inside read: “I miss you like crazy. I’m sorry I can’t be the one to make you happy. I’m sorry for anything hurtful that I have said. Please don’t think that I didn’t love you. I’m pining after you, and it hurts so much.”
A staff nurse at the unit later received a phone call asking for the man and recognised McLaren’s voice.
Miss Donnelly said: “She became suspicious of this and hit redial and recognised the number.
“She checked this against the number of the staff, and it matched the one held by Jill McLaren.”
The man’s mental health deteriorated after he was made aware that the staff knew about the relationship.
He later confessed to his lawyer and staff at the unit about what was going on.
Jill McLaren ended up being arrested, but made no comment at the time.
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