Flint man sentenced to life for hospital sex attack

A Flint man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a brutal and sustained sexual attack at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, which left the victim fearing for her life.

Lee James Mullen, 38, of Church Street, Flint, followed the victim into a hospital toilet on 10 December 2024, where he sexually assaulted and violently attacked her.

At a court hearing in early January, Mullen admitted sexual assault by penetration and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

During today’s sentencing at Mold Crown Court, the victim’s impact statement was read out, detailing the harrowing nature of the attack:

“On the night of the attack, even when I lay on the floor trapped, having taken a deep breath and played dead, you still punched me twice and assaulted me by penetration…

“I believed I was going to die that night in the toilets of a hospital, a place that’s meant to be for health, love, safety and trust…

“My greatest wish is that you never, ever do this to anyone again putting them through the trauma of what I went through that night, and I continue to go through to this day.

“I promise you now, I will rise like a phoenix from the ashes.”

Mullen had previously served 11 years in prison after gagging and raping a woman in 2015.

Today, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of seven years before being eligible for parole.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Ashley Davies, speaking after sentencing, said:

“This was a shocking and unprovoked attack which has changed the life on an innocent person and of their family.

“Having made off from the hospital, Mullen discarded his clothing before entering a local coffee shop to evade capture. I would like to commend my colleagues for swiftly locating and detaining Mullen, before any further offences could be committed.”

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Kneale also commented:

“I welcome today’s sentence, and whilst the lives of the victim and her family have been irreversibly affected, I hope they draw some comfort from seeing Mullen facing a lengthy detention.

“I’d also like to commend the bravery of the victim, along with the tenacity of the investigation team who worked relentlessly to investigate this abhorrent crime.”

Teresa Owen, Executive Director of Allied Health Professionals at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, added:

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the woman in this case. Our thoughts are with her and her family.

“This attack has had a profound effect on staff who were on duty that night, as well as other colleagues who work at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

“We will never accept violence in any form, against anyone on our healthcare sites.”