Male nurse convicted of date-rape drug killing

A male nurse has been found guilty of killing a nursing sister after he spiked her drink with a date-rape drug

Kevin Cobb, 38, also used the anaesthetic Midazolam to rape two other women, an Old Bailey jury said.

He used Midazolam to rape or indecently assault patients at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, where he worked in the casualty department.

Cobb was arrested last year after a patient complained to the police, she had gone to the hospital with stomach pains, was taken to a theatre room and drugged by Cobb. After the attack she was able to remember enough to raise the alarm.

Following his arrest in January last year, police reopened their inquiry into Susan Annis' death in 1996.

She was found collapsed in her room at the Royal Brompton Hospital, while on a course with Cobb.

Midazolam was found in her body, but the cause of her death had never been detected. It is believed she died after the drug reacted with alcohol.

Police believe Cobb may also be responsible for other attacks and are appealing for women who believe they may have been among his victims to come forward.

Cobb was convicted of the manslaughter of Miss Annis, and of drugging her with Midazolam with the intention to rape her.

He was also convicted of raping a woman patient at St Peter's on December 14 1998, and of drugging her with the intention of raping her. As well as drugging another women at the hospital with intent to rape her on January 7 last year, and of raping a woman, and of drugging her with the intention of raping her at the hospital on January 12 last year.