A HOSPITAL worker has spoken of his relief after a jury cleared him of stealing money from the bedside of an elderly patient.

The 77-year-old Colchester General Hospital patient claimed Michael Groves stole as much as £400 from her purse on February 6 last year.

Mr Groves, 23, of Land Lane, Colchester, denied theft and was found not guilty at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

The jury heard he had been working at the hospital for about a year when he was accused of dishonesty.

Shereen Dyer, prosecuting, told the court healthcare assistant Mr Groves had been seen by a nurse holding the patient’s purse while working a night shift in the emergency assessment unit.

She said: “You were at the patient’s bedside for ten minutes and in that time, you were able to steal money from her purse.

“It is a very unpleasant situation when an elderly woman who has been admitted to hospital, who is vulnerable and in pain, discovers she has had all her money stolen.”

When Mr Groves was confronted by his managers, he was said to have shouted, sworn and resigned on the spot. Miss Dyer added: “He later returned, throwing his uniform on the floor.”

Mr Groves said he had loved his job and had been shocked and upset by the accusation.

He said he was retriving painkillers from the patient’s bag when the nurse saw him.

His lawyer, Barry Gilbert, told the court the patient was on strong medication at the time of the alleged theft. She kept changing her mind about the amount claiming it was £60, then £80 and finally between £300 and £400.

Mr Gilbert told the court he was known on the ward as “Mikey II” because four other staff there were also called Mikey.

He added: “How can we be sure the ‘Mikey’ the nurse saw with the purse was Mikey II and not Mikey I, III or IV?

“From the moment the patient arrived at the hospital on that day, anybody could have taken the money. The bag was just sitting there and the nursing staff did not watch it the whole time.”

After being cleared, Mr Groves said he was relieved and was looking forward to putting the case behind him.

He added: “It has taken so much of my time up already. I just want to forget all about it.”