Care worker who sexually abused elderly victims has jail sentence increased

By The Press Association27th October 2015News EnglandCare Homes, News England, Older People, South West, Vulnerable Adults

A “depraved” carer who filmed herself sexually abusing elderly victims at a residential home and shared the footage with her boyfriend has had five years added to her prison sentence.

Judges at the Court of Appeal in London agreed with Solicitor General Robert Buckland that the original jail term of 10 years imposed in the case of Christina Sethi, 26, of Woodville Road, Torquay, was “unduly lenient”.

Sethi was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court in August after earlier pleading guilty to five offences relating to the sexual abuse of two women and one man in her care.

The victims she selected all suffered from dementia. One was terminally-ill with cancer and receiving end of life care. Sethi used her mobile telephone to record the abuse.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with two other judges, said of Sethi, who watched today’s proceedings via video link from prison: “She sexually abused three elderly, vulnerable, mentally-impaired residents in the most shocking and depraved fashion.

“She filmed the abuse and shared it with her boyfriend.”

After referring to the significant impact the abuse has had on the families of the victims, the judge said: “We will never know what trauma has been suffered by the victims themselves.”

She announced: “We are satisfied that the overall sentence imposed was unduly lenient and it would be appropriate for us to intervene.

“In our judgment the least overall sentence that could have been passed is one of 15 years.”

Mr Buckland said after the hearing: “I asked the Court of Appeal to look at this 10-year sentence under the unduly lenient sentence scheme because multiple sexual offences were committed against three victims.

“The attacks themselves involved a degree of planning and premeditation and Sethi had no regard to the vulnerability of her victims, who she should have being caring for.

“I hope the increase in the custodial sentence to 15 years offers a degree of reassurance to the families of the victims.

“Care home residents and their families should have complete peace of mind that they will not be abused and I offer those involved in this case my sincerest sympathy for the pain and suffering they have endured due to the actions of this despicable woman.”

After Lady Justice Hallett told Sethi of the increase in her sentence, she replied: “OK, yeah. Thank you.”