GREENHITHE: Carer jailed after attacking 90-year-old patient (From News Shopper)

GREENHITHE: Carer jailed after attacking 90-year-old patient

9:05am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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A NURSING home carer has been jailed for four months after hitting a 90-year-old patient with an incontinence pad.

Gift Mwakyusa, 27, was sentenced yesterday (March 10) at Medway Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of common assault at an earlier hearing.

The court heard Mwakyusa and another carer, 25-year-old Anna Ramos, were seen abusing the patient at Rosewood Care Home in Bean Road, Greenhithe, in March last year.

They taunted the patient and hit her on the face and body with an incontinence pad while she was sitting naked in bed, the court heard.

When another carer saw the abuse and asked them to stop they refused and continued to attack the patient who was crying out for help.

Sentencing Mwakyusa, of Uplands Close in Richmond-upon-Thames, Judge Michael Kelly said: “This is a very distressing case and is made all the worse that this lady was slapped a number of times.

“You abused a position of trust towards a victim who was particularly vulnerable. You treated her with contempt and almost tortured her, taunting her, laughing at her, abusing her.

“This was a horrific offence and no other sentence can be passed other than a custodial one.”

The abuse was not reported to the police until two months after it took place.

Mwakyusa, who is from Tanzania and was studying in the UK at the time, was found in London and arrested.

Ramos, of St Paul’s Street in Clitheroe, Lancaster, was found in Lancashire where she was charged with common assault.

However she failed to turn up to court and was found guilty in her absence, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Another member of staff at the care home was dismissed after being arrested and cautioned by the police for perverting the course of justice in releation to the assault.

Mwakyusa, Ramos and this member of staff have all been banned from working as carers for life.

After the sentencing, the victim’s family said: “We were devastated when we found out she had been assaulted by the care staff that we had trusted to look after her. It’s sickening.

“She is in the last years of her life and she should be safe and happy in this time and not at risk of abuse from carers who should never be allowed to work in this profession again.”

Investigating officers for Kent police Detective Constable Zoe Traynor and Detective Constable Sam Stuart were in court to hear the sentence passed.

Afterwards, they said: “Abuse against vulnerable adults will not be tolerated.

“This case highlights the importance and effectiveness of joint working and pro-active working to bring offenders who are in a position of trust and decide to break the law to justice.

“This was a lengthy investigation but we are delighted with the outcome.”