A mental health nurse accused of having a foot fetish and targeting vulnerable teenage patients will stay behind bars after a magistrate called the matter “deeply disturbing”.

Derek George Jackson, 58, was refused bail after being charged with 12 offences that allegedly occurred over nearly four years on the Gold Coast.

This week, Mr Jackson appeared in Southport Magistrates Court by video link, closing his eyes and shaking his head as the long list of allegations — including his alleged foot fetish — were detailed.

The father-of-three is accused of using his trusted position to target six teenage girls, all of them patients and many of whom were treated through the Child and Youth Mental Health Service.