A care assistant who raped a patient being treated for depression at a Canterbury hospital has been jailed.

John Mendy had earlier raped another woman after offering her a lift home from a nightclub.

When arrested, he told police of the respect in which he was held in The Gambia where he came from and said he could have any woman.

Mendy, 33, was working at St Martin’s Hospital as a care assistant and was on the night shift monitoring the woman when he raped her.

He had been in the UK three years.

At Canterbury Crown Court he was told by Judge Adele Williams he posed a significant risk of serious harm to women.

Mendy, of Sandwich Road, Cliffsend, Ramsgate, had admitted both rapes and was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

He must serve at least four and a half years before he can be considered for parole. Judge Williams said had she passed a determinate sentence, it would have been nine years.

Jailing him, Judge Williams said: “You were working in a position of trust and raped a patient who was suffering severe depression.

“I have read a letter from her expressing the traumatic effect.

“I have come to conclusion you pose a significant risk of serious harm to women by the commission of further specified offences.”

Deborah Charles, prosecuting, said in August, last year, the first woman had been talking to Mendy in the DV8 nightclub in Margate and accepted his offer of a lift.

He drove to a car park and said it was just to chat. She said she wanted to go and felt very worried, but he pinned her down in the passenger seat and raped her.

She eventually managed to grab her bag and escape from the car, hiding in the car park in case he came looking for her.

Mendy was arrested in November after the second rape and police were able to match DNA samples with the first victim.

In interview Mendy claimed the first woman initiated things. He claimed she’d given him her mobile number and he’d later called her but denied raping her.

The second victim was a patient at St Martin’s Hospital where she was being treated for depression. Mendy worked as a care assistant and was on the night shift monitoring the woman.

He asked for her phone number. They danced in her room and kissed then he raped her. He left the room afterwards and sat outside her room until the end of the shift.

During the following morning he phoned her, saying he regretted what happened and asked her not to tell anybody and asked if she’d had a shower yet.

After arrest, he admitted having sex with her but said she had become upset. She took part in the sex and admitted he’d called her.

“In his interview he said he could have any woman. He spoke of the respect that he was held in in his country.

“Later he said he understood what he’d done was wrong and didn’t know what had come over him saying he had the devil in him and he knew in her situation she couldn’t possibly consent to having sex with him,” said Miss Charles.

Mendy had no convictions and his lawyer, Jollyon Robertson, asked for credit for his plea. Mendy was married and since arrest had spent 328 days in custody.

In terms of risk assessment, reports before the court were unfavourable towards Mendy said Mr Robertson.

Judge Williams ordered the 328 days on remand should count towards the sentence and recommended Mendy for deportation.