A 42-year-old healthcare assistant has been jailed for 28 months after he sexually assaulted an extremely vulnerable woman who was suffering from a mental health crisis, attempting to take her own life only hours before the assault.
Jay Molinos, of Bowling Green Lane in Newport, was acting in his position as a healthcare assistant when he showered a vulnerable woman with compliments before going on to grab her breast underneath her clothing.
The shocking incident occurred at St Mary’s Hospital on 30th September 2025.
Molinos previously pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 24th July this year.
At a sentencing hearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Thursday (12th November), the court heard from the victim as she read her victim statement out to the court.
The victim recalled how on the day of the assault she was experiencing suicidal thoughts and had attempted to overdose. Following the failure of this, she made her way to the dual carriageway flyover where she attempted to take her own life once again.
Whilst experiencing this crisis, police and paramedics responded to the scene where they ultimately took the victim to St Mary’s Hospital A&E Department for a mental health assessment and treatment.
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, she was taken to a quiet room which had no CCTV; it was here that Molinos met his victim.
The court then heard from prosecutor Tim Devlin who said that Molinos entered the room at around 08:30 as part of his observation round. Whilst in the room together, Molinos told her she was ‘beautiful’ and began asking her personal questions and even asked if she has a boyfriend.
Mr Devlin went on to tell Judge William Ashworth of how the defendant said:
“If you don’t have a boyfriend I would like to be your boyfriend.”
The court heard that the healthcare worker then went on to kiss and hug the young woman before advancing his hand underneath her jumper and grabbing her right breast.
Following the assault Molinos asked the victim to type her phone number into his mobile phone, to which she did.
Adressing the court on how the assault has impacted her, she said she spent a long time feeling ashamed and guilty because Molinos actions initally caused arrousal. She proceeded to tell the court how her PTSD and Bioplar disorders have been ‘intensely hightended’ after the incidint, saying she can “still smell his aftershave”.
Defending his client, Nate Lara agreeed with Mr Devlin, saying it is obvious that his career as a carer is now over and that the NHS will unsurprisingly not be employing Molinos after his convictions.
Mr Lara told Judge Ashworth of his clients regret, saying he is incredinly remorseful and that it was the worst decsion of his life, he has thrown his career away and worst of all, he has thrown away his opportunity to make positive contributions to the community away.
Moving to sentencing, Judge Ashworth addressed Molino where he said he read the references provided to the court in which he came across as a highly regarded, highly spoken of man.
He went on to remind the defendant that he entered the room which acted as a safety bubble for the victim. He said “You entered within a safety bubble that should have exited.”
He went on to say that when the defendant entered the room, he entered the victims safety bubble and abused her. He also expressed how even a year on, the thoughts of what he did to her ‘dominate’ her.
Judge Ashworth sentenced Jay Molino to 28 months imprisonment, a police notification requirement lasting 10 years and ordered an indefinate restraining order.
