“Wicked and cruel” Chesterfield care assistant filmed dementia patient urinating

Katie Simpson, 25, videoed Peter Thompson peeing into a waste paper bin in a state of late-night confusion while working at Holmewood’s Gables Retirement Home.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard how after filming the father-of-two and stepfather-of-three on December 14 last year Simpson then shared it with other care staff.

After being seen by “various members” of staff at The Gables it was eventually discovered by management and deleted.

However staff described trainee nurse Simpson saying “what are you doing Peter?” in the 15-second recording while “laughing”.

Simpson had admitted ill-treating a person without mental capacity on the basis that she had given someone who already had access to her phone permission to share the video.

Prosecutor Daniel Wilshaw told magistrates: “This is someone who was in the care of Miss Simpson - it is wicked and cruel to film someone in these circumstances.

“She was employed by this care home and he was in her care - this was a breach of trust towards Peter and his family.”

Retired mechanic Peter, whose health rapidly started to deteriorate seven years ago, was placed at The Gables after being neglected - found dirty and “barefoot” – at a previous home.

The court heard how during a visit to The Gables in January this year Peter told wife Margaret Thompson something had happened “which should not have”.

However, as a carer walked past his room he “stopped talking”.

In a moving statement read out by Mr Wilshaw, Margaret, who sat in court to see Simpson sentenced, said: “We placed him at the home hoping his needs and care would be met but I’m worried this is not the only time something has happened at his expense.

“It’s hard to have to accept a loved one going into care - I trusted that Peter would be looked after and when I think about it now I still get upset.

“I consider this to be abuse - a person who does this has no place caring for someone again. I cannot stress strongly enough the effect this has had on myself and my family.”

Peter’s daughter-in-law told Lisa Brown how the “shocked” and “stunned” family still worried “to this day” about how the pensioner was being cared for.

She added: “We worry whether the video has been shared in the public domain.”

Simpson’s solicitor Karl Meakin told magistrates “at no point” had his client sought to “downplay her wrongdoing”.

However he added there was “an element of scapegoating” at the Gables - that Simpson was portrayed as a “lone bad apple” when there was a “difficult and unprofessional” culture at the home.

Mr Meakin said a statement from a senior staff member described another young care assistant “laughing” as she showed her the video.

He said: “She cannot apologise enough for what she has done - she was someone who had a bright future to look forward to that’s now gone.”

Mr Meakin said Simpson was now working in a restaurant and would not be returning to nursing.

Simpson, of Out Lane, Stainsby Common, Chesterfield, admitted ill-treating or wilfully neglecting a person without capacity.

Jailing Simpson for eight weeks a magistrate told her: “On one hand we have someone who is guilty of a massive breach of trust.

“It was a breach of trust to the individual, the family, the care home and the caring profession in general. It doesn’t bear thinking about what the family has had to suffer.

“On the other hand we have a lady of pretty much good character - a stupid mistake will cost her dearly for the rest of her life.”

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