Amanda Jenkinson, 46, was working at the Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK when she was convicted of causing Kathleen Turner, 67, grievous bodily harm with intent by interfering with her ventilator.

Her conviction was overturned on 18 November 2005 by the Court of Appeal following a referral by the Criminal Cases review Commission. Judges heard that the evidence against her was 'fundamentally flawed, inaccurate and misleading'.

She told the Nursing Standard: "I feel at a loss to express how I feel other than utter sadness, devastation and disappointment with a profession that I once held in such high regard.

"I was once described by fellow colleagues as 'the perfect nurse'. Well if this is how a hard-working nurse is treated it is a sad reflection on a distinguished profession."