A tribunal has heard harrowing details of a sexual assault that took place at the home of Dr. Astrit Rrukaj, a 41-year-old doctor, who reportedly made his female colleague feel trapped during an evening that took a horrifying turn.
The allegations against Dr. Rrukaj, who worked in the old-age in-patient unit at St George’s Hospital in Stafford, paint a disturbing picture of a night where the victim, known only as Ms. A, was subjected to manipulation and physical assault.
Dr. Rrukaj’s Unwelcome Advances at His Home
On the evening of August 11, 2021, Dr. Rrukaj invited Ms. A to his temporary residence while he was house-sitting.
According to the victim, the doctor began by offering her drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, despite her expressing no interest in drinking.
His persistent attempts included trying to feed her mango with his own fork, even though she had no desire to eat it.
As the evening progressed, Dr. Rrukaj’s behavior became increasingly inappropriate.
He played sexually suggestive music on his laptop and attempted to initiate physical contact, including trying to dance with her and kiss her.
When Ms. A resisted and told him she didn’t want to stay the night, Dr. Rrukaj continued to make advances, which included kissing her face and ear and placing his hand under her clothing.
Dr. Rrukaj’s Escalating Aggression and Coercion
Despite Ms. A’s clear discomfort and requests to leave, Dr. Rrukaj insisted she stay for dinner and have a shot of vodka.
He even offered her a glass of water that she later claimed “tasted funny,” which caused her to feel sick and dizzy.
Although there was no evidence that the drink had been tampered with, Ms. A felt increasingly unwell and trapped in the situation.
The doctor then proceeded to touch her inappropriately, which included grabbing and squeezing her breast.
When she pushed him away and pleaded for him to stop, Dr. Rrukaj reportedly ignored her pleas and forcibly lifted her off the ground, further preventing her from escaping.
Tense Moments and Desperate Attempts to Escape
By 9:41 PM, Ms. A sent a desperate message to a friend, explaining that the evening had become the “weirdest night” of her life. Dr. Rrukaj, however, insisted on driving her home, even though she had previously told him she would walk.
As she bent over to put on her shoes, the doctor allegedly rubbed his groin against her, a claim he later denied.
After arriving at the location where he had initially picked her up, Ms. A tried to send another urgent message to her friend asking for help.
As she stumbled away in the darkness, Dr. Rrukaj reportedly assaulted her once again before she managed to get into her friend’s car.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Once in the car, Ms. A broke down in tears, insisting that she had not consumed enough alcohol to explain her disorientation.
She was later taken to the A&E at Stoke Hospital, where a blood test confirmed that she was not intoxicated.
A photo taken of her after the incident showed her face swollen and reddened, further indicating the trauma she had endured.
In his defense, Dr. Rrukaj denied all allegations of assault, claiming the actions were consensual and that he had only kissed her on the cheek.
He insisted that Ms. A had agreed to spend the night with him and that they had even walked outside hand-in-hand as a “pretend couple.”
Tribunal’s Findings and Consequences for Dr. Rrukaj
The tribunal did not accept Dr. Rrukaj’s claims, stating that his actions were clearly sexually motivated and took place in a context where Ms. A was vulnerable.
It emphasized that Dr. Rrukaj had abused his position of seniority, trapping his colleague in a situation where she felt helpless.
The tribunal also criticized Dr. Rrukaj for deflecting responsibility and trying to blame others, including Ms. A’s friend, for the events.
Ultimately, Dr. Rrukaj was barred indefinitely from practicing medicine due to the severity of his misconduct, with the tribunal concluding that the public would be appalled to learn that someone who had sexually assaulted a vulnerable colleague was allowed to remain on the medical register.