Chesterfield carer jailed for assault on OAP

A NURSING home assistant is behind bars after a court heard how she tightened a skirt around an 80-year-old resident’s throat and threatened her.

And a jail sentence hangs over a colleague who put her hand over the dementia victim’s mouth to keep her quiet during the incident.

The whistle was blown by care worker Kaye Wilkinson, who reported the assaults to her line manager at Whittington Care Centre, Chesterfield.

Angela Hadfield, prosecuting, told Chesterfield magistrates Miss Wilkinson and Jenny Glossop, 45, were dressing the victim, Barbara Hagues, when the incident happened.

She said they had dressed her top half and had pulled a skirt over her head, to pull it down to her waist.

Mrs Hadfield said: “Miss Wilkinson said the victim was not the most compliant of residents and she was shouting and swearing and digging her nails into their hands.

“Jenny Glossop held the waistband tightly against her throat and said: ‘Hit me again and it’ll be the last thing you do’. Martinique Bannon then came and put her hand over the complainant’s mouth as if to silence her.”

Both workers were sacked following the incident on January 5.

Glossop, of Central Walk, Brimington, and Bannon, 21, of Birstall Close, Newbold, denied assault but were convicted following a trial.

Presiding magistrate Pat Boyle told them: “A care home should be a safe environment for vulnerable people. There was hostility towards the victim, degradation of the victim and an abuse of power

“Both of you were in positions of trust and had a duty of care. Families of residents place their trust in people such as you.”

Glossop was jailed for three months while Bannon was handed an eight-week term, suspended for a year. Bannon must also do 120 hours unpaid work, with £200 costs.

Probation officer Gerry Starnes told the court: “Jenny Glossop says she has worked in the industry for 18 years and had known the victim for two months.

“She says she suffered a three-inch scratch during the incident but this was a normal part of her work.

“She continues to deny the assault.”

Mr Starnes said Bannon denied placing her hand directly on the victim’s face and still believed she had done nothing wrong.

“The torrent of verbal and physical abuse they suffered caused them to lose their temper. It was a difficult situation,” said Joe Harvey, for Glossop.

Sean Conway, for Bannon, said: “It’s a taxing environment. She had limited experience and it was an ill-judged action. There was no injury and the victim has no memory of it.”