DAMIEN BIBLE FROM CHORLTON SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR IDENTITY FRAUD AND SEX OFFENCE

In a case that has once again brought the spotlight onto the dangers posed by individuals with a criminal past, Damien Bible, a 28-year-old former nurse from Chorlton, has been sentenced to additional time behind bars after attempting to deceive authorities and educational institutions with a false identity.

Damien Bible, who previously worked as a sexual health adviser at a drop-in clinic catering to young people, was convicted in September 2008 of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. His conviction led to his removal from the nursing register and a ban from working with children. The court heard that at the time of his conviction, Bible was employed at hospitals in Bolton and Wythenshawe, but his criminal record cast a shadow over his professional future.

Following his early release from prison, Bible embarked on a clandestine campaign to reinvent himself. He adopted the alias ‘Adrian James Stewart’ and sought to acquire new medical qualifications under this false identity, aiming perhaps to re-enter the healthcare sector or secure employment without revealing his past.

In October of the previous year, Bible managed to deceive the University of Manchester into issuing a specialist mental health qualification under his assumed name. This was achieved by copying someone else’s degree certificate, a clear act of fraud. The deception was uncovered three months later, shortly after the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) had already struck him off the register for his sex offence. The discovery occurred when Bible attempted to transfer his original nursing certificates to his new identity, an act that raised suspicion and led to further investigation.

As a result of these actions, Bible was recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his original sentence. Additionally, he was sentenced to serve another four months after admitting to charges of fraud and failing to notify police of his new identity, a legal requirement for registered sex offenders. It is anticipated that he will not be eligible for release until August of the following year.

During the court proceedings, Bible, who had previously worked as a youth worker, denied any intent to re-enter nursing or work with children. However, prosecutor Justin Hayhoe expressed skepticism about these claims, suggesting that Bible’s actions indicated a more sinister motive. Hayhoe pointed out that if Bible genuinely sought legitimate employment, he could have simply changed his name to Adrian Stewart without resorting to fraudulent activities involving his professional credentials.

Defense counsel Nicholas Clarke acknowledged the seriousness of the offences, noting that Bible’s actions carried the potential for far more damaging consequences. Clarke argued that Bible had been caught before any harm could occur and that he had not yet applied for employment under his new identity or attempted to conceal his past from employers, although he may have been preparing to do so.

Further details revealed during the trial indicated that Bible had attempted to build a new professional profile months before his arrest. His sex offence trial revealed that he was not qualified to perform certain intimate procedures, such as a swab test on a young girl at the Bolton-based Parallel Clinic, and had made inappropriate remarks during the procedure.

When he was struck off by the NMC in December, Bible was already working on establishing a new CV under his alias. His arrest and subsequent interviews in February revealed that he at one point claimed the identity theft was merely a prank, a defense that did not hold up in court.

In sentencing, Recorder Anthony Cross QC expressed his belief that Bible’s actions were motivated by a desire to obtain employment under a new name and to hide his previous convictions. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such breaches of trust and legal obligations are viewed, especially given the potential risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offences attempting to re-enter the workforce under false pretenses.