Carer jailed for abusing elderly woman

CARER JAILED FOR ABUSING ELDERLY WOMAN

Maurice Campbell, 56, from Illston Place in Peterborough, admitted to mistreating and deliberately neglecting an elderly woman.

Both he and his wife Deborah were caught on CCTV footage abusing the woman, showing Campbell twisting her fingers and forcing an object into her mouth to make her swallow medication.

His wife is due to be sentenced in January.

Detective Constable Les Ellmer, representing Cambridgeshire Police, described the case as involving some of the worst abuse of an elderly, vulnerable person he had encountered.

The case was presented at Peterborough Crown Court, where it was disclosed that the woman, aged 85, had dementia and was confined to her bed.

She required regular visits from carers and was being cared for by the couple.

While her family initially believed she was well cared for, they grew suspicious after noticing food spattered near her bed.

According to Det Con Ellmer, "Due to her dementia, the victim struggles to communicate and could not provide a witness statement so without the CCTV in her bedroom, no one would have been any the wiser to the abuse she was receiving." Campbell, who also admitted to slapping the victim's head, was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

His wife’s sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2016.