‘Fake’ nurse allegedly administered morphine to Queensland patients

A man posing as a nurse allegedly gave injections and administered morphine to patients while working in Far North Queensland this year, police allege.

The Cairns Magistrates’ Court has adjourned the case of Nicholas William Crawford until September 30, after police revealed he suffers from a mental illness.

Mr Crawford had previously been granted bail and ordered to stay at his mother’s home in Victoria, but was returned to custody after he was found on a remote stretch of highway near Alice Springs last week.

The 30-year-old has been charged with 115 offences, after he allegedly used fake documents to secure a $100,000-a-year job as a nurse at a clinic in Aurukun, Cape York.

He is accused of treating more than 160 people and supplying and administering drugs during February and March this year.

“That ranged… from a seven-month-old child up to… community members in their seventies,” Detective Inspector Glen Horan said.

Police said Mr Crawford was suffering from exposure in the intense environment of the outback when he was found near Alice Springs.

“He was located walking in bushland we believe, and he was in a sort of distressed state,” Detective Bradley McLeish said.

Mr Crawford also faces charges for allegedly posing as a nurse in Western Australia last year, and is under investigation by Northern Territory police.

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