A PROTRACTED prosecution of a former Greenock psychiatric nurse charged with sexually assaulting vulnerable patients seven years ago is finally set to reach its trial stage.

The case against Graham Davis has been beset with delays, including a bid by his lawyers in 2021 to have the matter thrown out.

Davis, 52, faces a total of six charges relating to alleged sexual offence incidents which are said to have taken place between January 1, 2016 and November 30, 2017.

He is accused of targeting a female patient at an address in Larkfield between January and December 2016.

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Davis is said to have gone to the woman's home unannounced, made inappropriate comments, attempted to kiss her, seized hold of her, and touched parts of her body.

It is alleged that he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner toward the patient and placed her in a state of fear and alarm.

Davis is further charged with making inappropriate comments to another patient and behaving in a threatening manner towards her at an address near Greenock town centre.

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Prosecutors say he sexually assaulted a patient at Crown House mental health services centre sometime between April 1 and June 1 of 2016.

Davis is also charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards a colleague at the Langhill Clinic of Inverclyde Royal between November 1 and 30 of 2017.

A sheriff was told in 2021 that Davis, 52, may have had an absolute defence under Section 51a of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act.

The legislation states: "A person is not criminally responsible for conduct constituting an offence, and is to be acquitted of the offence, if the person was at the time of the conduct unable by reason of mental disorder to appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of the conduct."

Matters were delayed four months previously after his lawyers won an adjournment on health grounds.

They told the court that he had suffered a heart attack, followed by a stroke, and argued that his cognitive abilities may have been impaired as a result.

However, Davis attended a subsequent calling of the case.

The trial is due to proceed on May 23.