A report has revealed an NHS trust failed to recognise the risk posed by a nurse who was first accused of sexual assault 10 years before being jailed for life for raping and molesting four women and two teenagers.

Vijay Bundhun was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last August to a minimum of 11 years after being convicted of four counts of rape and nine of sexual assault.

His most recent offences, carried out in 2014, happened while he was a mental health nurse in Swale based at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital.

Four of his victims were patients of the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and one was a student nurse.

An independent study into the trust's handling of the case showed that a sexual assault allegation was made against him by a patient in 2004, when he was a part-time health care assistant.

He was interviewed by police but denied it and no further action was taken due to "no reliable witnesses".

From 2004 to the point when he was suspended, in March 2014, there were a total of five allegations of misconduct made by patients and four by staff.

Two more patients came forward after former Canterbury Christchurch University student Bundhun was suspended, one alleging sexually inappropriate behaviour.

The report, carried out by Verita, showed there were a string of missed opportunities to identify how much of a risk Bundhun had been to patients and was critical of the trust's HR team for not acting sooner to suspend him.

"More than anything, we want to apologise to the women affected by the appalling criminal actions of Vijay Bundhun" - NHS trust spokesman

It revealed that when he changed jobs, which saw him working in mental health units across Kent, including in Ashford, Maidstone, Pembury and Medway, references referred to him as "honest" and having "excellent relationships with colleagues", with no mention of any allegations.

Deficiencies in how the trust kept personnel files restricted its "ability to recognise the risks VB posed", the review found.

The management of Bundhun by senior managers had not been "robust", said the report, and he had been able to avoid supervision sessions.

It called for a "culture change" in how the trust makes sure its patients are safe and listed 13 recommendations for improvement.

Commenting on the report, a trust spokesman said: "More than anything, we want to apologise to the women affected by the appalling criminal actions of Vijay Bundhun.

"We welcome and fully accept each of the findings of the independent review and are determined to ensure that changes are made to ensure that our patients are safe.

"The trust has continued to work hard over the years since these incidents and has focused on strengthening areas including management, supervision, training and culture. The report recognises this and recommends areas for further improvement.

"A comprehensive plan, personally overseen by the new chief executive Helen Greatorex, will ensure delivery of all actions, with updates presented regularly to the board."