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A mental health nurse who performed Nazi salutes in front of patients has been struck off. Stephen Johnson, who worked for North Essex Partnership Trust, was struck off by the Nursing and
Midwifery Council in December. The allegations relate to the period between January 2008 and October 2009, when Mr Johnson was employed by the trust as a band 6 deputy ward manager at
Severalls House. He was accused by two healthcare assistants of both inappropriate sexual and racial behavior towards staff and patients. The NMC panel was told that one of the patients at
Severalls was obsessed with Adolf Hitler and would walk about doing the Nazi salute. Mr Johnson would “wind up” the patient in order to get him to do this by marching about goose stepping
himself and doing the Nazi salute with his finger to his upper lip to demonstrate a Hitler moustache. He also referred to a Jewish colleague, who was of Ukrainian decent, as “Hamas” and
“Hezbollah”. In addition, the NMC panel heard that he sent a colleague a text message showing a photograph of a vagina, and tried to kiss her on more than one occasion. He also regularly
touched a male patient in the genital area in front of staff and other patients. In a statement, North Essex Partnership said: “We are pleased that the NMC have struck Mr Johnson off. His
behaviour was completely unacceptable. “The staff who complained about him have been vindicated and we thank them for coming forward, which is always difficult when a senior person behaves
badly. However they faced that challenge and did the right thing.” The statement added: “Staff came forward with their allegations on Friday 2 October 2009 and Mr Johnson was suspended on
Tuesday 6 October. Mr Johnson resigned from the trust in June 2010, before he could face disciplinary action.” December 2012