A NURSE has been cleared of baring her breasts and performing a sex act on a paranoid schizophrenic patient at his home.

Julie Porthouse admitted having “excessive contact” with the man and admitted she did “muddy the water” but denied claims she exposed her breasts and gave the man oral sex at his home.

2 Julie Porthouse has been cleared by a nursing panel Credit: Array

She was found to have had an inappropriate relationship while working as a community psychiatric nurse for the Hertfordshire Partnership.

But all charges of a sexual nature were found not proved at the nursing council panel in Stratford, East London.

Panel chair David Kyle said Porthouse's failure to maintain professional boundaries "was borne out of an over-anxious desire" to do what she thought was best for the patient's therapeutic needs.

2 The NMC heard she was only provinding 'emotional support' to patient Credit: Alamy

"We did not consider that your actions were an attempt to form a sexual relationship with Service User A or were in any way sexually motivated," he said.

Porthouse had told the hearing she wept when was accused of having an affair with the man by her manager Heather Meek.

"She said, 'there's gossip in the team that you are having an affair'.

"I was totally shocked.

"I said, 'You think all this time I have been out having an affair? Why? Because you couldn't see where I am and my dress style has improved?

"I said something along the lines of 'that's quite slanderous'.

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"I've been sitting across from a paranoid schizophrenic, I haven't been doing anything other than that."

Asked why she had excessive contact with the patient, Porthouse said: 'I think I was very anxious to ensure I provided him with enough support.

"When I was told I hadn't provided that in the first case, and because there were real similarities and the death of his father, I put them together and thought that if I had more contact I would support him more."

She added: "I did muddy the water with boundaries, I do agree.

"I can't sit here and say that I didn't because I did."

The hearing was adjourned to December when her fitness to practise is judged.