Man posed as medical student at hospital to access files and steal items

A man posed as a medical student at an Aberdeen hospital for several weeks and accessed restricted wards and files.

Stephen Simpson wore medical scrubs and NHS-branded clothing and used a stethoscope and pager at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary between December 9, 2023, and January 26, 2024.

The 22-year-old from Aberdeen convinced employees to grant him access to restricted areas, medical files, staff-only areas, and wards, and stole NHS-branded clothing, a pager, and a bottle of perfume.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Thursday, Simpson admitted fraud and sentencing was deferred until later this month.

Simpson originally faced a total of six charges – one of fraud and five others of theft.

He pleaded guilty to two amended charges of pretending to employees that he was a medical student authorised to be in ARI and the theft of items at the hospital.

The amended pleas were accepted and Sheriff Morag McLaughlin deferred sentence for a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment.