A care worker, secretly filmed slapping an elderly woman with dementia, has been jailed
A male care worker, who was secretly filmed slapping an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s in the face and on her arms and stomach, has been jailed.
Jonathan Aquino, who worked at Ash Court care home in Kentish Town, North London, was caught on camera attacking 80-year-old Maria Worroll. Mrs Worroll’s daughter, Jane, hid a camera in her bedroom after suspecting her mother was being mistreated.
Aquino was sentenced to 18 months in jail at Blackfriars Crown Court, central London.
Mrs Worroll, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008, had been living at the home since July 2010. She is now living at another care home.
Matthew Trainer, deputy director of Care Quality Commission (CQC) in London, welcomed the sentence and said: “It is right that this behaviour has been handled robustly by the police and the courts.
“This sends a strong message that it is unacceptable to abuse an elderly person in your care. We hope it will act as a powerful deterrent to others.
“This case highlights the fact that concealed abuse of the elderly can take place even in a well-run care home, although thankfully incidents like this are rare. Criminal abuse, by its nature, usually takes place away from the eyes of management and away from the eyes of bodies like CQC. We can play a part in making sure care is safe but cannot be everywhere.”
The CQC inspected Ash Court Care Centre twice in the summer of 2011. The first visit took place within four days of CQC receiving information about the incident involving Mrs Worroll.
The CQC carried out its unannounced inspection after the police had finished their initial evidence gathering.