Language Switcher

v2025 (2)

v2025

Sri Lankan doctor jailed for sexually abusing vulnerable patient in Australia

A Sri Lankan doctor who sexually assaulted a vulnerable patient at a West Australian regional hospital and led a double life, with his phone records showing he also had a fetish for prostitutes, has been jailed for three years.

Priyantha Padmike Dayananda, 49, was last week convicted following a trial of sexual penetration without consent.

The District Court of WA heard he inserted his hand into the victim's underwear during an abdominal examination at Bunbury Hospital's emergency department in December 2017.

doctor 1
Priyantha Padmike Dayananda was today jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a patient. (9News)

The woman, who has a history of trauma, earlier told the court she ran from the hospital as fast as she could without discharging herself and took a taxi home.

He called and texted her multiple times for the next five to six weeks, with one message reading: "Remember I touched your beautiful tummy at emergency".

The woman also said he had paid her "special attention" when she was in hospital for a fortnight recuperating from surgery in October that year, suggesting they "meet up" and stroking her hair.

doctor 2
The woman was assaulted at Bunbury Hospital.

In video footage of his police interview, Dayananda told detectives he didn't and wouldn't inappropriately touch "a girl like that" because he didn't find her attractive, she could have diseases and he had a wife.

The father-of-one also denied sending the woman texts, but could not explain how they had been sent from his phone.

Dayananda was sentenced today, with Judge Belinda Lonsdale saying he had committed a gross breach of trust. He will be eligible for parole after he's served 18 months.

Leave your comments

Post comment as a guest

0
Your comments are subjected to administrator's moderation.
terms and condition.
  • No comments found