Care workers jailed for tormenting dementia patients

Cruel care workers who tormented dementia patients by torturing their "comfort doll" burst into tears as they were jailed.

Shauna Higgin, 20, and Victoria Johnson, 23, shared video clips and photos of them "harming" the dolls, used as a therapeutic tool by elderly residents who become attached to the dolls and care for them like their own babies.

In one photo, titled Tug of War Higgin pulls the doll off one distressed elderly woman who holds on with her hands to stop it being snatched away.

And on another occasion the mother of one, shouted, "Die baby! Die" while flinging a doll to the floor as Johnson filmed.

Both defendants later admitted two counts of wilful neglect or ill treatment of elderly residents between December 1 and 26 last year, while working as care workers at Ashbourne House Nursing Home in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

The 29-bed home, looking after old people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease and run by Silverdale Care Homes, is now in special measures after critical reports following visits by Care Quality Commission inspectors who rated its services inadequate.

The footage and pictures came to light after a whistleblower sent them to the Manchester Evening News newspaper and police were called in January.

It is believed to be one of the first cases to be prosecuted under new legislation brought in last year targeted specifically at care workers who mistreat patients or residents.

Both women burst into tears as they were jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester. Members of their families stood open mouthed in the public gallery as Judge Andrew Lowcock sent them down.

Passing sentence, he said: "When families take the difficult decision to place loved ones in a care home they expect the bare minimum that loved ones will be treated with dignity and respect.

"You treated them as playthings, as the butt of your tasteless jokes, your behaviour bullied and your victims could not fight back. These cruel offences can only be met with custodial sentences."

Higgen, of Elliot Walk, Middleton, was ordered to serve 13 months in youth detention and Johnson, of Cowlishaw Lane, Oldham, jailed for 12 months.

Earlier Gavin Howie, prosecuting, told the court in November last year both defendants and other care workers set up a Whatsapp group and shortly after photos and videos of a comfort doll was shown in "various situations".

These included the doll being hung by its neck, in a tumble dryer, a cooking pot, submerged in a fish tank and being dragged along a corridor by Higgin.

She was also filmed flinging the baby near the nurses station as a resident sits nearby and another photo showed Higgin pulling the doll away from one resident, whose daughter felt "sick" and broke down in tears when she saw the image of her mother's abuse, the court heard.

In another incident, video taken on Higgen's mobile phone, seized by police, show them laughing at an elderly Asian resident, who is asked if her mother's name is "Chapati'.

John Marsh, mitigating for Higgen, said her behaviour had been "immature" and she had received death threats after the case was reported by the media.

Steven Sullivan, for Johnson, said she was now receiving counselling for depression, adding: "This offence was borne out of immaturity, thoughtlessness and irresponsibility, but not of malice."

Judge Lowcock ordered prison authorities to keep a watch on Johnson as she begins her time in jail.