An investigative journalist has been convicted by a jury of taking sexual advantage of a mentally disabled young woman on a hospital ward.

Anthony Moncrieffe, of Buckland Hill, Maidstone, pleaded not guilty but was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of five counts of sexual activity with a mentally disabled person.

The incidents happened between September and November 2012 at the Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea.

The 67-year-old must now wait to hear his fate. Sentencing has been adjourned for reports until 23 January. Moncrieffe was granted bail until then.

Four of the charges related to him kissing the woman who came from Dover on the lips and the fifth accused Moncrieffe, a veteran of the Daily Mirror, Sunday People, Press Association and Reuters, of putting his hand between her legs.

During the trial witnesses told the jury they had seen Moncrieffe kiss the woman and one member of the hospital staff said they had seen him touch the woman between the legs.

Moncrieffe said he had only kissed her on the tip of her nose and that there had been an occasion when he had been talking to her and they had been holding hands and their hands were resting on her lap.

He said the incidents were said to have happened at a time he was investigating an organisation because he suspected disabled people were being exploited by it.

This led to Moncrieffe's denial, earlier on in his trial, that he was an escort specialising in satisfying the desires of people with special needs.

He told the jury last week: “I don’t think I’d be a sex worker. Look at me.”

But he said in the end he decided there was no story there and that they were a bona fide organisation.