Stockport Nurse Won't Get Her Job Back

A Cheshire nurse arrested then freed over the poisoning deaths of patients at Stepping Hill Hospital has lost her appeal for her job back.

28 year old Rebecca Leighton, from Stockport, spent six weeks in jail after being held by police.

She was then released and cleared of any wrongdoing last September when prosecutors said there was not enough evidence against her, but she was then sacked for theft by bosses at Stepping Hill Hospital.

The Royal College of Nursing confirmed an appeal hearing against the sacking was held on Thursday but the appeal was dismissed.

Miss Leighton attended the hearing in person, which was not held at Stepping Hill, and presided over by Trust bosses.

She had been initially detained in July last year on three counts of causing criminal damage intending to endanger life and three counts of criminal damage being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

She was also accused of one count of theft of medicine.

Although the criminal charges were dropped, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust sacked her on December 2 last year following an internal disciplinary hearing after she admitted the theft of drugs from the hospital.

If Ms Leighton had won she could have returned to work on the wards at the hospital.

The Trust said they were unable to comment because of “confidentiality issues”.

There was no response from Miss Leighton's lawyers at Mishcon de Reya.