A MALE nurse accused of writing a student's essay in exchange for £300 or sex has been cleared of wrongdoing.


Nigerian-born Michael Atomon denied saying he would finish a student nurse's assignment for cash or "having a baby together".


Mr Atomon was the co-mentor of trainee Ms A on the Clare Ward - an 18-bed ward with a mental health focus - at the Ladywell unit run by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.


The incident at the unit, which is based on Lewisham Hospital's site, allegedly happened in December 2008.



Investigating officer at the time, Carlos Forni, said: "Ms A said Mr Atomon said he always had a soft spot for her and that they could have a baby together now his wife was out of the picture."


A Nursing and Midwifery Council conduct and competence hearing in central London was told Mr Atomon had difficulties with other staff on the ward and had been sent on an anger management course in 2008 by the manager.


Three staff witnesses repeated Ms A's claim at a disciplinary hearing in November 2009 which Mr Atomon says was a conspiracy.


Mr Forni said: "I have no doubt he said those things, but the difficulty is to prove whether it was a joke or serious."


Mr Atomon represented himself at the hearing and grilled witnesses with comments such as "Just answer the question" and "remember you are under oath".


He denied offering to complete a written assignment for Ms A in exchange for £300 and a sexual relationship and that his fitness to practise as a nurse was impaired as a result.

The panel cleared him of both and said evidence was based largely on hearsay with Ms A not being "a convincing witness".