A paramedic has been suspended after he asked a trainee he was mentoring if she used sex toys. Alexander Jones was in an ambulance alone with the student paramedic - who was on her first ever placement - when he quizzed her about using a 'wand' vibrator.
During his pupil's placement with him, Jones asked if she "waxed or shaved" her genitals, if she liked anal sex, and if she "had much luck" on Tinder. Jones, of the Scottish Ambulance Service, also told the trainee "if you sleep with me it won’t affect your grades" and was repeatedly caught staring at her breasts.
A misconduct hearing was told that by the end of her week with Jones in Glasgow, the student was "exhausted" by his sexual innuendos. The trainee, named only as 'Student A', asked for a new mentor because she "couldn't put up with his behaviour" for the three years she was due to spend as his mentee.
Now, he has been suspended for three months following a Health and Care Professions Tribunal. The tribunal heard Jones, based at Glasgow South Ambulance Station, had the trainee shadowing him in January 2019 for only four shifts.
A tribunal report said: "Student A stated that Jones brought up the subject of sex toys by asking her if she had ever used any sex toys such as a 'wand' vibrator. Student A stated that she was unable to recall her response but believed that she had laughed it off.
"She stated that Jones went on to ask Student A if she had AA batteries for a vibrator and at the end of the shift made the comment 'make sure you have those AAs!' Student A described the incident as making her feel 'very uncomfortable'."
The report said Jones showed Student A photos of women he matched with on Tinder and told her of his sexual exploits with them. He said he avoided going on a second date with one woman because she wasn't shaved and he found it "gross", before going on to quiz Student A about whether she waxed or shaved.
Jones made a creepy comment in the back of the ambulance about taking his top off, the tribunal heard. While driving Student A home, Jones made a series of sexual comments.
The report said: "Jones asked Student A if she had ever had anal sex or whether it was something that she was interested in doing. Student A stated that she did not answer this question.
"Jones then said ‘if you sleep with me it won’t affect your grades’... Student A stated that it would be unethical for a lecturer and a student to sleep together, so why would it not be unethical for a mentor and a student to do the same.
"Jones' response was that if they did not tell anyone it would be fine. Student A stated that she laughed at this comment but avoided saying no as she did not want to hurt his ego.
"Jones then accidentally drove over a kerb whilst turning a corner. He said that if he had busted a tyre he would have to come up for a 'cup of coffee'.
"Student A stated that the comment was said jokingly but was also suggestive as he held eye contact with her and she caught him staring at her breasts, which is something that happened several times throughout her placement."
Jones also made transphobic comments about a transgender doctor, it was heard. He said "I don’t think I’m homophobic, but I’m transphobic" and referred to the trans doctor as "it". Jones told the tribunal he has learned from his behaviour.
He said: "Whilst I have always endeavoured to maintain clinical practice this incident has made me realise that there is always more that can be done in relation to professionalism. Since this incident I have avoided any discussion of my personal life and am more conscious of my use of humour and behaviour at work, open discussion of my personal life is inappropriate in the workplace and I endeavour to avoid such conversations at work."
The panel, suspending him for three months, said: "Jones' comments and conduct gradually escalated during the placement week. He was interested in having sexual relations with Student A and overstepped the boundaries of his professional relationship as her mentor in order to create the environment in which a sexual relationship could develop.
"Student A, as a paramedic student on placement, was a very junior colleague. Jones was Student A’s mentor and knew or ought to have known that high standards of conduct and behaviour was expected of him at all times.
"As a consequence of his role, he was in a position of trust and there was an inherent imbalance of power between himself and Student A. He exploited that power to further his own interests.
"The Panel considered that young women at work have a right to go about their professional lives without being subject to language and conversation that is sexually motivated and distressing to them."
