Taunton doctor avoids jail after he put his semen into coffee

Vile GP Nicholas Chapman, 55, was given a community order for a sexual offence after a trial heard he filled up hundreds of 'specimen' samples and was accused of dropping them into his victim's hot drinks.

After first sipping a 'salty' coffee, the victim said she used to pour others away but always noticed a 'thick gloopy' substance in the sink.

Her suspicions were raised a year later when she discovered a collection of 'specimen pots' belonging to Chapman.

The victim then took a sample of the next coffee he made for her to police and it tested positive for the defendant's semen.

Chapman, of Taunton, Somerset, was sentenced today, Thursday June 6 at Bristol Crown Court. 

He was previously found guilty of one count of engaging in sexual activity without consent for making the victim 'ingest his semen' on 13 September 2021.

Nicholas Chapman (Image: SWNS)

The jury at Gloucester Crown Court found him not guilty of the second count of the same charge allegedly committed between 12 September 2020 and 12 September 2021.

This was the period the victim 'thought' something was wrong with the coffee he was making her but no official testing had been carried out.

Sentencing him to a 12-month community order, Judge Rupert Lowe told Chapman he will be required to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He said: “Mr Chapman, you are an intelligent professional of previous good character with good references.

"However, people did not know what you did in private.

“Your defence at trial was absurd and unnecessary. Your claims were implausible and contradictory.

“You told the police a ridiculous story of having semen on your hand and admitted to masturbating at work.

“You then shifted your story about testing for a medical condition.

"The truth is, you masturbated at work as you had a high sex drive. The impact on your career and personal life has been considerable. You have brought that on yourself.”

In addition to the community order, Chapman will be subject to a 10-year restraining order preventing from contacting the victim and a five-year notification order.

He will also have to pay court costs of £3,500.

Nicholas Chapman (Image: SWNS)

"I feel betrayed" says victim 

In a victim impact statement released at the time of the verdict, she said: "I feel betrayed by him, by his actions. He has made me feel powerless.

"The devious and cowardly nature has shocked me. If this was a physical attack I may have at least had a chance to defend myself.

"I've had to be open about this to my partner and family, but I often feel alone and that no one quite understands.

"I hope in the future I am able to put this all behind me and move on with my life.

"Though I have to accept that the mental and emotional trauma I have suffered throughout this will always remain with me in some way."

Chapman, who was described as a respected and experienced doctor, was born in South Africa, where he qualified as a doctor at the University of Cape Town in 1993.

Speaking after the sentencing today. Detective Sergeant Rachel Walls, one of the investigation team, said: “This has been a long process for the victim.

"Despite the negative effect of the offence on her wellbeing she has bravely supported our investigation throughout.

"I hope that the sentence imposed by the court today will help her start to recover.”

Gemma Kneebone, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS South West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “Nicholas Chapman was convicted of an unusual and vulgar offence against a person he knew.

“By putting his semen into a cup of coffee in the hope that someone he had targeted would drink it, he betrayed a common gesture of kindness for his own sexual gratification. His actions have had a far reaching and profound impact on others.”

Officers kept the NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group informed to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures were in place from the start of their enquiries.