A man who pretended to be a nurse for more than four years and endangered the lives of patients has been sentenced to jail. Ashton Guramatunhu, aged 46, assumed a real nurse’s identity to become a nurse in late 2014 through an agency in Warrington, Cheshire.
Between January 1, 2015, and April 5, 2019, Guramatunhu worked at six nursing homes in northeastern England, earning approximately £172,920.94 unlawfully. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison on December 2 at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.
Guramatunhu’s deceit was uncovered in January 2019 when the legitimate nurse was contacted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council regarding an incident at a care home where Guramatunhu had never worked. The discovery prompted an investigation by Cleveland Police, later transferred to Cheshire Police in 2020 upon realizing Guramatunhu’s registration with the Warrington agency.
Detective Constable Naomi Sargent, who spearheaded the investigation, emphasized that Guramatunhu’s past criminal record made him unsuitable for the healthcare sector. She condemned his actions, stating that he jeopardized patients’ lives for personal gain and praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in bringing Guramatunhu to justice.