Latest news with #StephenDoohan
The Guardian
5 days ago
- The Guardian
Paramedic jailed for 10 years for secretly giving woman abortion drug during sex
A paramedic who tricked a woman into having an abortion by secretly inserting drugs inside her during sex has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Stephen Doohan, 33, was married when he met the woman on holiday in Spain in 2021 and began a long-distance relationship. In March 2023, the woman travelled to Edinburgh to see him after learning she was pregnant, the high court in Glasgow heard. On 17 March, Doohan inserted an abortion drug in her vagina without her knowledge during consensual sex and the following day insisted on seeing her underwear after she noticed white discharge, the court heard. Last month he had pleaded guilty to sexual assault and depositing a drug into her vagina causing her to abort, and depositing with intent to cause her to abort. On Monday the defendant, a clinical team leader at the Scottish ambulance service, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. The court heard that the paramedic convinced the woman, who has not been named, to lie to doctors at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary because he thought he would be arrested if she told the truth. The victim attended another regional hospital with her sister and was told that she was having a miscarriage. The court heard that in May 2023 the woman complained to the Scottish ambulance service, which launched an investigation. On 14 March, the day the woman told Doohan she was pregnant, he used a work intranet to search for abortion drugs, the court was told. Sentencing, Lord Justice Colbeck said: 'You put her through considerable pain over a number of days, and left her facing a lifetime of pain and loss.' He also said Doohan caused 'long-term psychological injury' to his victim. The court heard that the crimes occurred over 48 hours, starting on 17 March at Doohan's flat in Edinburgh. Colbeck said Doohan had told the woman he did not want children, but she later became pregnant. The judge said: 'She felt something hard being inserted into her vagina and believed this was a sex toy.' However, the following day, after discovering unusual discharge in her underwear, and suffering stomach cramps, she returned to Doohan's flat. The judge said: 'She took some diazepam and went into a deep sleep, and felt you initiating sexual contact. 'She felt you inserting something hard from under the mattress. She was suspicious of your actions. 'When you went to the bathroom, she took the opportunity to look under the mattress.' The woman found some tablets hidden under the mattress, the court heard. Colbeck said: 'The complainer then carried out an internet search for abortion tablets and confronted you over your actions.' He added: 'You planned out what you did to your victim using resources available to you as a paramedic.' Defending, Mark Stewart KC said: 'I express Mr Doohan's deep sorrow and regret for the actions he is now in the court charged with. 'His position is that he is filled with remorse for the harm he has caused, and the breach of trust his actions represented.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- The Guardian
Paramedic jailed for 10 years for secretly giving woman abortion drug during sex
A paramedic who tricked a woman into having an abortion by secretly inserting drugs inside her during sex has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Stephen Doohan, 33, was married when he met the woman on holiday in Spain in 2021 and began a long-distance relationship. In March 2023, the woman travelled to Edinburgh to see him after learning she was pregnant, the high court in Glasgow heard. On 17 March, Doohan inserted an abortion drug in her vagina without her knowledge during consensual sex and the following day insisted on seeing her underwear after she noticed white discharge, the court heard. Last month he had pleaded guilty to sexual assault and depositing a drug into her vagina causing her to abort, and depositing with intent to cause her to abort. On Monday the defendant, a clinical team leader at the Scottish ambulance service, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. The court heard that the paramedic convinced the woman, who has not been named, to lie to doctors at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary because he thought he would be arrested if she told the truth. The victim attended another regional hospital with her sister and was told that she was having a miscarriage. The court heard that in May 2023 the woman complained to the Scottish ambulance service, which launched an investigation. On 14 March, the day the woman told Doohan she was pregnant, he used a work intranet to search for abortion drugs, the court was told. Sentencing, Lord Justice Colbeck said: 'You put her through considerable pain over a number of days, and left her facing a lifetime of pain and loss.' He also said Doohan caused 'long-term psychological injury' to his victim. The court heard that the crimes occurred over 48 hours, starting on 17 March at Doohan's flat in Edinburgh. Colbeck said Doohan had told the woman he did not want children, but she later became pregnant. The judge said: 'She felt something hard being inserted into her vagina and believed this was a sex toy.' However, the following day, after discovering unusual discharge in her underwear, and suffering stomach cramps, she returned to Doohan's flat. The judge said: 'She took some diazepam and went into a deep sleep, and felt you initiating sexual contact. 'She felt you inserting something hard from under the mattress. She was suspicious of your actions. 'When you went to the bathroom, she took the opportunity to look under the mattress.' The woman found some tablets hidden under the mattress, the court heard. Colbeck said: 'The complainer then carried out an internet search for abortion tablets and confronted you over your actions.' He added: 'You planned out what you did to your victim using resources available to you as a paramedic.' Defending, Mark Stewart KC said: 'I express Mr Doohan's deep sorrow and regret for the actions he is now in the court charged with. 'His position is that he is filled with remorse for the harm he has caused, and the breach of trust his actions represented.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Paramedic who drugged lover with abortion pills to kill their unborn baby starred on BBC show about 'frontline heroes and their life-saving work'
A paramedic who secretly drugged his lover with a syringe laced with abortion pills to kill their unborn baby previously starred on a BBC show about frontline heroes and their life saving work. Stephen Doohan, 33, has today been sentenced to a decade behind bars. However he previously featured in a BBC documentary series called Paramedics on Scene. The award-winning series follows front line heroes from the Scottish Ambulance Service as they take part in life saving work. One of the show's bosses previously described it as a 'fascinating insight into the challenges that paramedics face each day and see the amazing work they do to help those in need.' In one clip he was seen assessing a woman who was panicking after she had a sting. The series returned earlier this year for its sixth season. The emergency worker was married when he met the woman on holiday in Spain in 2021 and began a long-distance relationship. The woman travelled to Edinburgh to see him after learning she was pregnant in March 2023, Glasgow High Court heard. The paramedic then crushed pills into a syringe and administered the abortion pills as she lay on a bed at his home in the Scottish city's upmarket Grange area. Doohan gave his lover, who was not aware he was married, more drugs days later, where she soon fell ill, and later fainted in the shower, jurors were told. It later emerged the woman suffered a miscarriage as a result of Doohan's actions. The Clinical Team Leader with the Scottish Ambulance Service attempted to silence the woman with gifts, and begged her not to go to the police. But, she eventually reported him to the Scottish Ambulance Service having recorded a conversation of him effectively confessing. Today, he was sentenced to ten years and six months, after pleading guilty to assault, sexual assault and another charge of causing the woman to have an abortion. At the sentencing, Judge Lord Colbeck said the 33-year-old had put his victim, through 'considerable pain' for several days, and 'left her facing a lifetime of pain and loss.' 'You left her in what can only be described as considerable pain and anguish over the prospect of losing her child before she did, in fact, do so. 'The offences committed by you, frankly, are almost as serious as any this court is ever asked to sentence.' Lord Colbeck also imposed a non-harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting the woman. The ambulance service suspended Doohan after his actions came to light, and he is no longer employed by them. The court previously heard how Doohan was temporarily separated from his wife when he discovered the woman was pregnant in March 2023. Doohan and the woman were involved in consensual sexual activity where he went to do something she could not see, but was not 'suspicious of his actions' at that time. He had used the laced syringe on his lover, and she began to suffer stomach cramps the following day, the court was told. When they returned to the paramedic's flat, he gave her diazepam for the pain. The court heard she ended up in a 'deep sleep', but awoke to find Doohan 'initiating sexual contact'. This time she was suspicious of what he was then doing, but was also feeling the effects of the diazepam. Doohan later went to the toilet and the woman took the chance to peek under the mattress. Here, she discovered a plastic syringe filled with crushed tablets as well as star-shaped tablets, Prosecutor Scott McKenzie explained how the woman immediately checked online for 'abortion tablet'. Mr McKenzie: 'The search returned images that matched the tablet the woman had found.' Doohan initially denied what he had done before sobbing claiming he was 'scared'. He also said he had got the tablets from a doctor, but insisted they would not 'work' on the woman as it was the wrong dosage. Due to the ongoing pain, the woman attended hospital on March 16, 2023, with Doohan, who pleaded that he would be arrested if she 'told the truth'. Mr McKenzie: 'Before speaking to medical staff, the woman and Doohan rehearsed what she was going to say. 'The midwife recalled her being distressed and concerned about the baby. Doohan appeared quiet and expressionless.' The next day, the woman collapsed in the shower and had to return to hospital. She insisted Doohan did not come in the examination room this time. It was soon after that it emerged she had suffered a miscarriage. Doohan then splashed out on various gifts including perfume, socks, money to get her hair done and football tickets to keep her quiet. The last contact she had with Doohan was in late June 2023. Mr McKenzie said the woman has ben 'significantly affected' by her ordeal. The woman initially lodged a formal complaint with the Scottish Ambulance Service, where she provided screenshots of messages as well as the conversation she recorded. This information was soon later passed to the police. During the probe, it was discovered Doohan had checked for medical information on the drug misoprostol the same day the woman told him she was expecting. The court heard misoprostol can be 'administered for the purpose of managing a miscarriage or inducing a termination of pregnancy'. Mark Stewart KC, defending, said Doohan was 'deeply sorry' for what he had done. The lawyer added he had issues at the time which affected his 'judgement and decision making' although that did not excuse what happened. The paramedic also previously faced an allegation of stealing misoprostol from the Scottish Ambulance Service in Edinburgh, but a not guilty plea was accepted. Doohan was also placed on the sex offenders list.
Times
5 days ago
- Times
Paramedic who secretly gave pregnant lover abortion drug is jailed
A paramedic who secretly gave a pregnant woman an abortion drug, killing her unborn child, has been jailed for a ten and a half years. Stephen Doohan, 33, was married when he met the woman on holiday in Spain in 2021 and the pair began a long-distance relationship. In March 2023, the woman travelled to Edinburgh to see him after learning she was pregnant, Glasgow High Court heard. Doohan, who was a clinical team leader with the Scottish Ambulance Service, concocted the plan to induce a miscarriage. He crushed pills into a syringe before the administering the medicine as she lay on a bed at his home in Edinburgh's upmarket Grange area on March 17, 2023. Doohan inserted an abortion drug in her vagina without her knowledge during consensual sex, and the following day insisted on seeing her underwear after she noticed white discharge. He gave her more of the drug days later and she soon fell ill, which included fainting in the shower. It later emerged that she had lost the baby as a result of the paramedic's actions. The court heard that Doohan convinced the woman to lie to doctors at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh because he thought he would be arrested if she told the truth. The victim attended another hospital in the region with her sister and was told she was having a miscarriage. In May 2023, the woman complained to the Scottish Ambulance Service, which launched an investigation. She handed over screenshots of messages as well as a conversation she had recorded. This information was passed to the police. The investigation found that on March 14, when the woman told Doohan she was pregnant, he used a work intranet network to search for abortion drugs. • Paramedic tried to blame good Samaritan for man's death On Monday, Doohan was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to ten years and six months in prison. He had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault and depositing a drug into the woman's vagina, causing her to abort, and depositing it with intent to cause her to abort. Lord Colbeck also imposed a non-harassment order barring him from approaching or contacting the woman. Doohan had not told the woman he was married when they met, and they remained in contact. When the woman discovered she was pregnant in March 2023, Doohan had separated from his wife temporarily and was living at a flat in Edinburgh. During that visit, Doohan and the woman were involved in consensual sexual activity. The woman said he had done something she could not see during this activity, but was not 'suspicious of his actions' at that time. The court heard this was when he used the syringe. The next day, the woman began to suffer abdominal cramps. They were then back at Doohan's flat and he gave her diazepam for the pain. The court heard she ended up in a 'deep sleep', but awoke to find Doohan 'initiating sexual contact'. This time, she was suspicious of his actions, but was also feeling the effects of the sedative. • Police advised to 'seize digital devices' from women who miscarry Doohan later used the lavatory and the woman took the chance to peek under the mattress. Scott McKenzie, for the prosecution, said: 'She found a plastic syringe containing crushed tablets which had been pushed to the end of the syringe. 'Next to the syringe were two white tablets that were in the shape of a star.' The woman immediately checked online for 'abortion tablet'. McKenzie said: 'The search returned images that matched the tablet the woman had found.' Doohan initially denied what he had done before sobbing, claiming he was 'scared'. The woman called a friend who urged her to go to the police. But she initially had concerns for Doohan, stating she did not want to 'ruin' him if she was OK. She later recorded a conversation with him and it was then he confessed to inserting the syringe, but stated he 'could not go through with it'. He did accept 'fragments' of the drug still may have ended up in her system. The woman also discovered he had been researching abortion on the internet. McKenzie said the woman had been 'significantly affected' by her ordeal. Doohan, now of Kirkliston, near Edinburgh, also faced an allegation of stealing misoprostol from the Scottish Ambulance Service in Edinburgh. This drug can be administered during a miscarriage or to induce a termination. A not guilty plea was accepted. The woman was in court on Monday to see Doohan sentenced. Lord Colbeck told Doohan: 'You researched and planned what you did to your victim. 'You used resources available to you as a paramedic before manipulating the woman and executing that plan under the guise of consensual sexual activity. 'You left her in what can only be described as considerable pain and anguish over the prospect of losing her child before she did, in fact, do so.' The judge said the emotional victim impact statement he had read 'radiates with raw pain' suffered by the woman. He said: 'The offences committed by you, frankly, are almost as serious as any this court is ever asked to sentence.' Mark Stewart KC, in mitigation, said Doohan was 'deeply sorry' for what he had done. He had had problems at the time which affected his 'judgment and decision making' although that did not excuse what had happened. Doohan was also put on the sex offenders list.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Paramedic jailed for spiking pregnant lover with abortion drug
A paramedic who tricked a woman into having an abortion by spiking her during sex has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Stephen Doohan, 33, was married when he met the woman on holiday in Spain in 2021 and began a long-distance relationship. In March 2023, the woman travelled to Edinburgh to see him after learning she was pregnant, the High Court in Glasgow heard. The court heard that Doohan inserted an abortion drug in her vagina without her knowledge during consensual sex on 17 March 2023. Doohan had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault and depositing a drug into the woman's vagina causing her to abort, and depositing with intent to cause her to abort. On Monday at the High Court in Glasgow, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. The court heard that Doohan convinced the woman to lie to medics at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary because he thought he would be arrested if she told the truth. The victim attended another regional hospital with her sister and was told that she was having a miscarriage. The court heard that in May 2023, the woman complained to the Scottish Ambulance Service, which launched an investigation. It revealed that on 14 March, the day the woman told Doohan she was pregnant, he used a work intranet to search for abortion drugs, the court was told. Police were then called in. Sentencing, judge Lord Colbeck said: 'You put her through considerable pain over a number of days, and left her facing a lifetime of pain and loss.' He also said Doohan caused 'long-term psychological injury' to his victim.
