Suspended jail sentence for Bedminster care home worker

A senior healthcare assistant who humiliated a 93-year-old dementia sufferer in her care has received a suspended jail term.

After the sentence the family of her victim said they were happy that June Davies would never work with the elderly again.

The family of great-grandmother Iris Cameron thought she would be well looked after when, due to her health needs, she went to live at Honeymead Care Home in Bedminster.

Instead she was the butt of a “silly joke” when Davies abused her position of trust and tormented the pensioner by thrusting her chest in her face.

Davies, 49, of Swansea, denied ill-treating or neglecting Mrs Cameron – since deceased – on May 21 last year.

Judge Michael Longman handed her a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He told Davies: “People would feel revulsion that anybody could behave in that way, let alone someone in whose care she had been placed.

“Iris was 93, had advanced dementia and the family needed to know their relative will be looked after and treated with due dignity.”

Davies was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, be supervised for 12 months for her “recurrent alcohol problem” and ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs.

She has lost her job as a result of the conviction and is on a list of people barred from working in the care industry.

Mrs Cameron’s daughter-in-law June, 63, of Hengaston Street, Bedminster, said: “The sentence was fine. She won’t work with the elderly again, or anybody who’s vulnerable.

“The sentence doesn’t really bother me. I just needed to know what she was going to get and that’s it. Drinking is her big problem, and the playing to the crowd is her character. Her life will be harder if she can’t get a job in care.”

Davies said it was true that her pregnant daughter Maryann Smith shook her belly at the pensioner, showing her she was carrying a baby.

But Davies said it was untrue she (Davies) unzipped her work tunic and exposed her bra to Mrs Cameron.

The court heard from three of Davies’ colleagues, who alleged malpractice.

Tracey Caddick, a senior healthcare assistant, described how Ms Smith “wobbled her belly about” before Davies unzipped her top, held her breasts together and pushed them about four inches from Mrs Cameron’s face.

Ms Caddick said she did not intervene because she did not want a confrontation in front of residents.

She told the court she had been suspended in 2004, following a complaint made by Davies and other members of staff, but had later been reinstated and insisted she had no bad feeling towards Davies.

Kate Churchley, a care assistant, said Mrs Cameron had frequent mood swings and called Davies a “pig” after Davies flashed her chest.

Claire Lovell, another healthcare assistant at the home, said Mrs Cameron screamed and shouted after Davies and her daughter were “winding her up”.

Davies admitted she had previous convictions for shoplifting, obstructing police, using insulting, threatening or abusive behaviour and benefit fraud.

She said she had worked at the care home for around eight years up to the incident, washing, dressing and feeding residents.

She was adamant she did not expose herself to the pensioner.

She said no complaints were made to her and, after she rang in sick with a shoulder complaint, she received a telephone call in which she was told she was suspended but was not told why.

Bedminster GP Dr Andrew Green confirmed Mrs Cameron had advanced dementia and had very limited capability to remember anything or communicate with anyone.

Mrs Cameron was born in Bristol, started life in The Dings and was described as a good home-maker and seamstress who had a son with her husband Ron – a holder of the Burma Star, who died of a heart attack in 1997.

Her son Paul died of cancer, aged 65, two years ago, and she leaves two grandsons and three great-grandchildren.

Georgina Buckley, defending, said Davies provided daily help for her daughter and grand-children and the conviction had caused her significant stress.

She said Davies had worked in the care system since her early 20s, had obtained qualifications, and the incident was wholly out of character.

She said: “Mrs Davies plainly acted without thought, impulsively and recklessly. It was a silly act.”

Mimosa Healthcare, owner of the care home, said: “The company’s primary aim is to ensure that the care of our residents is delivered with compassion and dignity by all of our staff. If the level of care or behaviour falls below the high standards we expect from our staff then Mimosa Healthcare will act decisively to ensure that the situation is rectified quickly and appropriately.”