Theft case paramedic Angela Armitage was taunted over `Naturist` interests

Oct 28 2009 By Neil Atkinson

A PARAMEDIC accused of stealing from patients claimed she was bullied – because she was a naturist.

And a disciplinary hearing was told that Angela Armitage was also teased about being a member of a sex club in Honley, the village where she worked.

Paramedic Armitage, 57, who works at Honley Ambulance Station has been accused of stealing money from patients on several occasions between November 2003 and April 2007, but no criminal charges have ever been brought against her.

Pat Kenworthy, who has worked with Mrs Armitage for around 20 years, told the Health Professions Councils’ (HPC) Conduct and Competence Committee that a small group of colleagues gossiped about Mrs Armitage’s lifestyle.

Asked by Mrs Armitage’s representative, Mick Barraclough, what aspect of her lifestyle attracted comment she replied: “That she is a naturist.”

She added that some members of staff questioned whether Mrs Armitage had visited a local sex club.

She said: “They have looked on the web to see if she’s a member of the club and found it very funny.”

She said Mrs Armitage, of Caldercliffe Road, Berry Brow, has been a victim of “malicious backstabbing” and that her behaviour at work was perfectly normal.

She said: “Angela is very professional, she has been in the last 20 years I’ve known her a very trustworthy lady who has helped me fund raise and collect money.”