Senior paramedic was accused of making creepy comments about female trainees. He tried to justify himself by saying that he had compared his remarks to Benny Hill.
One young lady was being bowed down by Richard Maxon, who said, “Loud, loud, and annoying,” in an unrelated reference to oral sexual activity. A disciplinary hearing was held.
Additionally, he quizzed the students about their sexual orientations and relationships and rubbed his feet in a suggestive manner. He then told another trainee that ‘you have to make your guy happy.
Maxon worked as a lecturer at a university on a paramedic course.
A panel of Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service judges that his behavior was predatory and clearly sexually motivated and suspends him for six-months.
Richard Maxon, a paramedic with 19 years’ experience, was suspended for six months, after he was accused of making ‘predatory’ and ‘clearly sexually motivated’ comments to trainees
Through video calls, the three day tribunal heard Maxon speak. Maxon has been working as a paramedic in South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for over 19 years.
At the time of these allegations, he was employed at University of Portsmouth in Hants as a lecturer for a Certificate of Higher Education paramedic course.
In June 2019 Maxon asked a class of up to 20 students in a ‘cheeky, arrogant way’ for their ‘marital/relationship status’ and ‘sexual orientation’.
A student described him to be ‘loud, obnoxious’ while another said he was ‘aggressive, shouty’.
Maxon commented on a female student feeling ill two days later during a practice “cardiovascular assessment” involving two students.
Colleague A was the trainee who told the tribunal that he had volunteered to perform the assessment of one student. Because I was sick, this was the first day I felt unwell.
“I apologized for my cold to the person on whom I was performing the assessment and everybody laughed.
Maxon was employed by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust at the time he made the sexually suggestive comments, working as a lecturer on a Certificate of Higher Education Paramedic course with trainees
“Richard Maxon” was then given to [the male colleague]And he asked, “Is this going be ruining your image of you tonight?”He then suggestedively rubbed his arms up and down on his legs.
“I was extremely embarrassed. [his]It made me feel dirty. [The male colleague]Richard Maxon also commented that we were both red, while I blushed.
Maxon said he didn’t mean to refer to masturbation, but he added that he made the comment in a Jokey Benny Hill style.
Colleague A was again sexually assaulted by Maxon the week after, and he asked Colleague B, if she had shaved her legs. During another demonstration.
Later in the day Colleague A dropped her head to the ground. The panel later heard him comment, “You must make your fella feel at home… Oh no, wait! You’re not single.”
Colleague A also said the following day as Maxon was reaching for his syringe. He said, “While you’re there love …’.” The young trainee described it as an “implicative and dirty” manner.
She continued, “Nobody laughed in class and I was embarrassed again.”
“I reached the end my tether at that point.” So I didn’t react. I got up and administered the syringe to him.
‘[I have]Never felt so demeaning or humiliated throughout my entire life.
Maxon denied making the comment, but he commented again if it were said that it was “just messroom banter”.
Maxon was told that he understood the ‘old style banter’ but refused to change it. The panel found Maxon to be in poor conduct.
“[Maxon’s]The comments made were of a sexual nature directed at young women in the context a large power imbalance.
The panel concluded that [Maxon]He had tried to minimize his guilt by denying more serious allegations and downplaying their severity (i.e. These allegations, if made, were dismissed by Benny Hill as a joke and the context of their being said was not serious. He also denied that any sexual connotations had been implied.
The panel issued a six-month suspension order, which will be reviewed by the panel in July 2022.
Alfred Hawthorne Hill aka Benny was an actor, comedian and writer who was well-known for comedy and burlesque. His show, The Benny Hill Show was one of the UK’s most popular, with more than 21 million viewers at its peak.