Anger as care home worker jailed for sex attack on OAP

CHARITY bosses today called for stricter controls on the hiring and training of staff after a frail pensioner was sexually assaulted by a worker at a council-run care home.

Joseph Sinja, 32, was taken on at the nursing home in the Capital despite having “absolutely no qualifications” and little training, a court heard yesterday.

He was jailed for six years and eight months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for the indecent assault on the 76-year-old woman as she clung to a walking frame.

Help the Aged Scotland and Age Concern Scotland today said it was “completely unacceptable” that Sinja, a Kenyan national who was allowed into Britain to study at a private Bible college in Scotland, had been allowed to work with vulnerable people.

A spokesman said: “You would expect the council to be demonstrating the highest level of checks and setting an example.

“We’d call for an investigation to be made immediately. Clearly more procedures should be in place when it comes to vetting individuals. It is unacceptable.”

Today, the city council confirmed an investigation into the incident would be held.

The judge told Sinja that he would have jailed him for ten years without his guilty plea.

He also recommended that Sinja should be deported after serving his prison sentence.

Defence lawyer Ray Megson said Sinja’s employment as a carer raised questions.

He told the court: “This was a man with absolutely no qualifications, irrespective of his religious beliefs and references.

“He was put into the situation with absolutely no training other than for four days following someone around.”

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC told the court: “The victim describes feeling dirty and sick as a result of the incident. Her age makes the offence particularly distressing and embarrassing.”

The prosecutor told the court that the woman, who has suffered reduced mobility, remained at the home, but is now treated by female carers only.

Sinja, of Hawthornden Place, had responsibility for the area of the home where the victim was staying. She was awake in bed when he went into her room at about 9am.

Sinja got the partially-dressed pensioner to stand up and hold on to her walking frame, before carrying out the sex attack and leaving the room.

The prosecutor told the court that the victim was shocked and in pain following the assault on 26 April.

Mr Prentice said the elderly woman confided in a woman care worker: “He stood me up . . . then he turned me around and he done it.”

Mr Megson said father-of-two Sinja was born into “a God-fearing family” and that the offence was out of character and “almost inexplicable”.

Michelle Miller, chief social work officer for the council, said: “The council reviews the circumstances surrounding all serious incidents and such a review will take place.”