Paramedic who secretly gave woman abortion drug is jailed

Paramedic who secretly gave woman abortion drug is jailed

A former paramedic has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for secretly giving a pregnant woman an abortion drug to terminate their child. Stephen Doohan, a clinical team leader with the Scottish Ambulance Service, admitted to the assault, sexual assault, and causing the abortion at the High Court in Glasgow. The victim, who was unaware of Doohan’s marital status, miscarried after he crushed pills into a syringe and injected her while she was in bed at his Edinburgh home in 2023. According to Judge Lord Colbeck, Doohan’s actions caused the woman significant pain and led to a lifetime of suffering.

Lord Colbeck emphasized that Doohan meticulously planned and executed the act, utilizing his position as a paramedic to manipulate the victim under the guise of consensual sexual activity. The judge described the offenses as among the most serious the court has seen and noted the raw pain expressed in the victim impact statement. In addition to the prison sentence, an indeterminate non-harassment order was imposed on Doohan. He was subsequently suspended from the ambulance service and is no longer employed by them.

Doohan met the woman in Spain while on vacation in 2021, concealing his marital status, which eventually led to the discovery of the pregnancy in 2023. Following a temporary separation from his wife, the woman visited Doohan at his Edinburgh residence, where the incident took place. Despite initially denying the act, Doohan later confessed, claiming he was “scared.” The victim eventually reported the incident to the ambulance service, sparking his arrest. Prosecutors emphasized the significant impact on the victim and stressed the importance of coming forward to report such offenses.

The procurator fiscal for high court sexual offenses described Doohan’s actions as calculated and heinous, resulting in the loss of the victim’s pregnancy and disrupting her future plans. The sentencing aimed to hold him accountable for the breach of trust and send a clear message regarding sexual offenses. While such incidents are rare, authorities encourage victims to seek support and report offenses when they feel ready to do so

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