A nurse found guilty of murdering two patients at a hospital where he worked has today, Tuesday 19 May 2015, been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 35 years.

Victorino Chua, aged 49, of no fixed address, deliberately contaminated products that were stored on acute treatment wards at Stepping Hill hospital with insulin.

The products – which included saline bags and ampoules – would then be used by unsuspecting staff members to treat unsuspecting patients.

The insulin would cause them to suffer hypoglycaemia – a drop in blood sugar levels.

He was also found guilty of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to one patient who suffered a brain injury as a result of being poisoned and for whom Chua falsified his medical records, recording him as being conscious and alert when blood tests have proven that he was suffering severe hypoglycaemia.

Chua was also found guilty of attempting to intentionally cause grievous bodily harm to 21 other patients who became unwell after being treated with products contaminated with insulin but for who it could not be proven beyond all reasonable doubt suffered injury as a result or who suffered no lasting effects.