NHS Trust investigates sexual abuse claims

It is believed David Britten may have abused many more than the eight women victims who have already come forward. He has already been struck off the nurses' register, but could now face criminal charges.

According to his victims, all of them vulnerable patients with severe eating disorders and many of them teenagers, David Britten was king pin at the Peter Dally clinic in central London.

Britten was senior nurse at the clinic but was allowed by his superiors to hold therapy sessions, despite having no qualifications. He would tell his victims that only he could get them better and made them believe they were in a relationship.

Past actions

How long this abuse went on is not clear, but it is known that in 1998 two patients reported inappropriate behaviour by Britten. The then Riverside Mental Health NHS Trust investigated but reached an 'inconclusive outcome'.

In 2000, what had now become the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust ordered an inquiry following persistent rumours about the man. In May 2001 he was suspended and in 2004 he was struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.

Inquiry and investigation

Now an independent inquiry ordered by the Department of Health has taken the unprecedented step of ordering a recall of patients - 135 of them - because of fears he may have abused more than the eight so far identified, although the recall is only as far back as 1999.

The police are now investigating whether they can bring charges against Britten - no longer believed to be in the country - using part of the mental health act which makes it a criminal offence for male members of staff to have sex with female patients.

The inquiry is expected to report this autumn.

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