Paul Edwards, 31, of Naylor Road, Ellesmere Port, appeared for a two-day trial at Chester Crown Court after denying sexually assaulting a man on May 15.

It took a jury of 11 an hour and 10 minutes to reach its verdict yesterday and when it was announced friends and family in the public gallery applauded.

The complainant, a 27-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed Edwards had sexually assaulted him as he had a catheter removed.

At the time of the alleged incident Edwards worked as a clinical support worker on the orthopaedic trauma unit (Ward 46).

The complainant was brought to the Countess of Chester Hospital and was on the high dependency unit for 10 days, the court heard.

On May 14 he was transferred to the orthopaedic trauma unit where he was told he could have his catheter removed.

The first attempt at removing it had been unsuccessful but Edwards managed to remove it, the court heard.

It was during this removal that the complainant alleged the sexual assault took place.

The court heard the complainant was on painkilling drugs such as morphine which might have impaired his judgment.

The court heard evidence from consultant anaesthetist Andrew Mortimer, from the University Hospital of South Manchester. who said: "It's more likely than not that the drugs altered his perception of events."

John Marsh, defending, told the court about hallucinations the complainant had had on May 10 after suffering from a fever and lung infection.

The complainant thought he saw "things running up and down the curtains" in the hospital ward.

Mr Marsh suggested he had been drowsy from the drugs and did not know what had happened.

Mr Marsh said: "I suggest he didn't do anything inappropriate at all.

"My client was making sure the excess gel was cleaned up like a nurse would."