07/10/2014
A senior carer in Salisbury has been convicted of maltreating dementia patients and may be sent to jail.
45 years old Agneskia Sztokmanska denied 7 charges of ill treatment under Mental Capacity Act 2005, Section 44. The jury, however, convicted her of five counts and she will be scheduled for sentencing on October 24, 2014 at Swindon Crown Court.
Sztokmanska served as carer for Milford Manor for three years during 2010 up until March of 2013 when she was suspended after allegations of abusive treatment towards patients. She then resigned three days after her suspension.
Milford Manor’s management was alerted of Sztokmanska’s abusive conduct by her co-workers. Her colleagues said that they were alarmed when they saw bruises on some of Sztokmanska’s patients. One carer testified seeing Sztokmanska throwing a shoe at a patient’s chest in an effort to compel the latter to take a sit. Another carer said Sztokmanska has the habit of calling patients “monsters” and “idiots” and even saw her pull one by the hair across the floor.
Wiltshire Police, after being notified by the care home’s management, immediately initiated an investigation.
UK has recently experienced a spike in care home abuse, especially among the elderly. NHS’ Adult Social Care Survey in 2013 revealed that one out of three senior residents in care homes are afraid of being subjected to abusive treatment. Last June 20 staff from a care home in North Somerset has been sentenced to four months in jail for mistreating a patient with Alzheimer’s.
Sharon Douglass, Senior Crown Prosecutor, expressed her appreciation towards Milford Manor’s carers who reported Sztokmanska’s abusive conduct.
Douglass warned other abusive carers that the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police are taking cases of ill-treatment of care home patients seriously. Douglass said: “This prosecution sends a strong message to those who abuse vulnerable people who lack mental capacity believing they will not be caught."
