A COMMUNITY psychiatric nurse, who had sex with a woman suffering from a mental disorder, was jailed for two years at Southampton Crown Court.

John Bennett, who was employed by Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust, was arrested after the woman – in her late 40s – made a disclosure to her doctor that they had sex in her home.

Judge Derwin Hope told the 44-year-old, who had been a qualified care worker from 2001 until June 2010 when the allegations came to light, it represented a “breach of trust.”

The judge said he accepted that at heart he was a caring person and had suffered difficulties of his own.

He added: “But you took advantage of her difficulties for your own benefit in a serious way.

“You are someone with a low risk of committing further offences and you have been relieved of your professional duties but I have no doubt, taking everything into consideration, this matter is so serious that only an immediate period of custody can be justified.”

Defending, Christopher Baur said there had been no “wickedness” in Bennett’s intentions and he was still receiving treatment for his own mental health problems.

Bennett had been off work for depression and went back too early because he feared for his job.

He and the woman had considerable feelings for each other and if he had been in a better frame of mind he would not have slipped into this situation.

Bennett, of Wood Road, Ashurst, was convicted of having sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder as a care worker.