Influencer NHS nurse wrongly suspended after patient claimed she was pregnant with his child wins huge payout
A NURSE wrongly suspended for two years after a patient claimed she was pregnant with his child has won a huge payout.
Jessica Thorpe was investigated after the man, named only as Patient X, said the pair were in an "inappropriate relationship".
5
Jessica Thorpe was suspended as a nurse after a patient claimed he got her pregnant
He was a patient on a secure facility for men with mental disorders who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.
The patient claimed Thorpe was "pregnant with his child" - leading her to be suspended three days later.
She eventually was told she could continue her work with Cumbria,
Thorpe has now been awarded ££24,118 after she won a claim for unfair dismissal, breach of contract and unlawful deduction of wages.
Read more news
A judge previously said he would not address or make factual findings on Patient X's allegations as he ruled in the nurse's favour.
The court heard Thorpe began working for the trust in early 2020 but was suspended in April that year when the claim was made.
A hearing eventually took place in July 2021 - more than a year after the allegations arose - by which time Patient X had passed away.
The panel heard how there may have been a 'blurring of boundaries' due to the patient 'responding well' to the nurse.
Most read in The Sun
The allegation of inappropriate behaviour was not upheld due to a lack of 'conclusive evidence'.
Despite the ruling, Thorpe was told she would not be returning until a police probe into Patient X's death was completed.
Judge Simon Loy said there was an 'enormous period' where Thorpe was suspended but said the 'real issue' arose from the trust's decision not to allow her back to work after the disciplinary hearing.
During her suspension, the nurse launched a food influencer account on Instagram called 'Slice of Jess', which amassed more than 50,000 followers.
She also began making YouTube videos and started earning money from her content.
Tax returns shown to the tribunal revealed her income from Google soared from £4,211 in 2021 to £19,222 in 2023.
The trust tried to argue that Thorpe only resigned from her role as she wanted to "pursue her career as a social media influencer'.
But Thorpe said she only started posting content as a "hobby" during her suspension.
She also told the trust when resigned that she was doing so because the trust failed to address any 'gossip' about the 'alleged relationship' from colleagues.
Judge Loy accepted her desire to pursue a career as a social media influencer was 'influential' on her decision to leave.
He said he had "considerable sympathy' for their position as in "other contexts", the breach could be considered to have been "remedied".
But he added: "However, the tribunal must apply the applicable legal principles.
'If the duration of [Miss Thorpe's] suspension gave her an opportunity to explore the potential for social media activities to generate income then so be it.'
5
Thorpe sued the trust for unfair dismissal
Credit: Instagram / @thesliceofjess
5
While she was suspended, the nurse started an influencer page
Credit: Instagram / @thesliceofjess
5
She began making YouTube videos and started earning money from her content
Credit: Instagram / @thesliceofjess
5
A judge ruled in Thorpe's favour
Credit: Instagram / @thesliceofjess
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit tourist missing in Brazil after suddenly vanishing from his AirBnb – leaving belongings and passport behind
A BRIT tourist has disappeared in Brazil with his passport and belongings left untouched at his AirBnb. Denis Kopanev, 33, who works as a financial analyst in London, was last spotted on CCTV leaving the rental on Monday. 4 Denis Kopanev, 33, has disappeared while travelling in Brazil Credit: Jam Press 4 His loved ones have not heard from him since Monday Credit: Jam Press 4 His last known location was very close to his AirBnb Credit: Jam Press Denis, who is Russian with British citizenship, was staying at the trendy neighbourhood of Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's capital city. He was supposed to travel to São Paulo the following day to meet an American friend. The pair had planned to visit Fernando de Noronha - a volcanic archipelago about 215 miles off Brazil 's northeastern coast. But Denis' family and friends have not heard from him since Monday. Read more world news The last location shown on his phone is the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon - close to his AirBnb in Rio. He never checked out of the property and his passport and belongings were found in the room. His disappearance was registered at the local police station on Wednesday. Denis' best friend Benone Moura said the analyst loves Brazil and visits the country often - his last visit being six months ago. Most read in The Sun Benone considers his disappearance to be out of character, saying that his friend never travelled without letting his loved ones know beforehand. He last spoke with him on Sunday. Is THIS the moment that saved the sole Brit survivor? Vid shows debris fly from Air India jet…is it door he fled from? His family has been in contact with the British Embassy. A report has been filed, but the family are yet to receive any news. Denis' disappearance is being investigated by the Rio de Janeiro Whereabouts Discovery Unit (DDPA). He was last seen on CCTV wearing a beige jacket and trousers, a dark baseball cap and a white shirt. It comes as Brit tourist Ashton Jones, 29, Doctors there believe Ashton, who suffers from epilepsy, was attacked. Ashton's family in Cwmbran, Wales, were "worried sick" when they learnt the news. His cousin Sophie told The Sun: "It's heartbreaking because we're all really close. "We're shocked and going out of our minds because we don't know what's going on. 4 Denis was meant to meet a friend in São Paulo on Tuesday Credit: Jam Press
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Grooming gang GUILTY of sexually assaulting two teens in Rochdale after plying them with booze in 5yr reign of terror
A GROOMING gang have been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teen girls in Rochdale in a five-year reign of terror. The seven men "passed" the victims around for sex and preyed on them in squalid flats and car parks in the town. Advertisement 3 Mohammed Zahid has been convicted of sexual abuse in Rochdale Credit: GMP They groomed the girls from the age of 13 and made them their "sex slaves" by plying them with gifts, including alcohol and drugs. The victims both had "deeply troubled home lives", which meant they were easy prey for the fiends. During a five year horror ordeal, the girls were expected to have sex "whenever and wherever" the defendants and other men wanted. As well as flats and car parks, the predators abused the teens on rancid mattresses, in cars, alleyways and disused warehouses. Advertisement Mohammed Zahid, 64, Kasir Bashir, 50, Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, Roheez Khan, 39, Mohammed Shahzad, 43, Nisar Hussain, 43, and Naheem Akram, 48, were today convicted. Three of the abusers, Zahid, Ahmed and Bashir were born in Pakistan and worked as stallholders on Rochdale's indoor market. Father-of-three Zahid - known as Boss Man - gave free underwear from his lingerie stall to both victims. He was previously jailed for five years after he engaged in sexual activity in 2006 with a 15-year-old girl who he met when she visited his stall to buy tights for school. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Exclusive Latest Bashir did not attend the current trial after he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way. It can also be reported that Shahzad, Akram and Hussain were remanded in custody with their bail revoked in January before the jury was sworn in. Police received intelligence that the three Rochdale-born taxi drivers were planning to leave the UK and had already paid a deposit for their transport. While Pakistani-born Khan was one of five men convicted of sexually exploiting a "profoundly vulnerable" 15-year-old girl in 2008 and 2009. Advertisement 3 Kasir Bashir was among the men convicted today Credit: GMP 3 Mushtaq Ahmed worked on a market stall Credit: GMP More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Advertisement is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Cadavar dog arrives at Annie McCarrick dig site as murder case cops probe if American visited house before disappearance
A CADAVER dog has arrived onto the site of a house where a major search for Annie McCarrick's remains is ongoing as a man is still being questioned on suspicion of murder. Garda technical and forensic 6 A cadaver dog has arrived onto the site of the house in Clondalkin Credit: Gary Ashe 6 The search is expected to last for a number of days Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin 6 Tragic Annie McCarrick has been missing for over 30 years Credit: Handout A digger, kango hammer, consaw and other power tools are being used on site today to excavate the house and gardens. Shortly after 11am, a cadaver dog - used to pick up and track the scent of human remains - was brought in. The Irish Sun understands it has been The property, which has undergone extensive renovations over the years, has been sealed off since yesterday morning. READ MORE ON ANNIE However, gardai stressed its current occupiers 'are not connected in any way' to the case. Officers are probing if Annie visited the house before she vanished in 1993. The search there is expected to last a number of days. A 62-year-old man MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN We have learned that the suspect — who was known to Annie — is being quizzed over more than five separate alibis which the Gardai 'committed to uncovering the truth' of Annie McCarrick's murder and disappearance He must be charged or released by later on today. Gardai are also probing allegations the suspect It is understood the suspect denies any involvement in her disappearance. American Annie was Despite extensive investigations, her body has never been found, nor have any definitive answers. After the case was upgraded to murder two years ago, the gardai focused on two men who sources say were among her many friends. Both have assisted with inquiries over the years, with one of them interviewed abroad in recent times. GARDAI PROBING FALSE ALIBIS The second man was the suspect lifted between yesterday morning when detectives from Irishtown Garda Station landed at his home, which is outside Dublin. Gardai conducted what sources say was a 'cursory search' of the property, but it was not invasive. The suspect is a married man who has lived a normal life since. A source told The Irish Sun: 'Gardai are focusing on inconsistencies and discrepancies in the accounts previously given to them by this man." The source revealed they are probing whether false alibis may have been created at the time. They added: 'There is fresh information in terms of what they are focusing on regarding what cropped up during the reviews of the case and developments with speaking to others too. "This man would have been known to Annie at the time of her disappearance. He hasn't lived in Dublin for some time.' HUGE SEARCH OP The major arrest and search op is being led by an investigation team from the DMR South Central Division, Serious Crime Unit based at Irishtown Garda Station under the direction of a senior investigating officer. It also has the assistance of the Serious Crime Review Team, aka the Cold Case unit, along with the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A temporary restricted airspace has been put in place by the Irish Aviation Authority over the search, banning drones from flying overhead. Born on March 21, 1967, Annie was 26 years old at the time of her disappearance. Originally from New York in the US, she was an only child of Nancy and John, who died in 2009 without any answers. My fondest wish would just be to find out what happened to her. To be able to have a grave to visit." Nancy McCarrick As a teenager, Annie visited Ireland on a school trip and fell in love with the country and way of life. When she returned back to the US, she told her parents of her intention to return here to live. She did and in the 1980s, she completed her third level studies at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra and at St Patrick's College, Maynooth before returning to New York in 1991. There she hit the books once more at Stoney Brook University, New York. She moved back to Dublin permanently on January 4, 1993, and settled into rental accommodation at St Catherine's Court, Sandymount, Dublin 4. FINAL MOVEMENTS On Friday, March 26 of that year, almost four months later, Annie spoke to her two other flatmates before they both headed off home for the weekend. She made arrangements with other friends inviting them to her apartment for dinner the following day. But when they turned up that evening, she was not there. On Sunday, March 28, her friends began to worry as they discovered she had not turned up to work all weekend. That evening, her pals discovered her groceries — that had been purchased by Annie on the Friday morning in Quinnsworth on Sandymount Road — had been left unpacked in shopping bags in her home. A receipt confirmed the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 at 11.02am, and this is the last confirmed activity of Annie. She was reported missing by a friend at Irishtown Garda Station on the evening of Sunday, March 28, 1993. FAMILY'S PAIN Tragically, Annie's mother Nancy had been due to meet up with her doting daughter on March 30 that year, just four days after the disappearance. Nancy travelled over but her intended holiday turned into a nightmare. Speaking in 2023, Nancy, who is in her 80s now, said: 'She was funny. Yes, she was very reliable. "She was conscientious. She wasn't fearful. She couldn't find fault with Ireland. 'It makes a huge difference to hear her case has been upgraded to a murder investigation. "You never know, it might prompt someone to come forward after all these years. As for justice or retribution, I have no interest in it at all. "My fondest wish would just be to find out what happened to her. To be able to have a grave to visit.' Gardai said that they will continue to keep the family of Annie fully updated in relation to the investigation and have been fully apprised of the developments. A spokesman said: 'An Garda Siochana appeals to anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant that they might believe it to be, to contact the investigation team. 'Any information will be welcomed by the investigation team, and will be treated in the strictest confidence. The investigation team can be contacted at Irishtown Garda Station on 01 666 9600 or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.' 6 The property has been sealed off since yesterday morning Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin 6 The property has undergone extensive renovations over the years Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin 6 Annie was last seen alive on March 26, 1993 in Sandymount in south Dublin Credit:
