Nursing home worker jailed for punching woman, 85

A nursing home worker who left an elderly woman black and blue after punching and grabbing her by the throat has been jailed.
Injuries sustained by Edna Wright in the attack. aInjuries sustained by Edna Wright in the attack. a
Injuries sustained by Edna Wright in the attack. a

Sarah Frith, 29,attacked 85-year-old Edna Wright at Codnor Park Nursing Home in October 2013 – leaving her with such bad bruising that she was hospitalised overnight.

Chesterfield Magistrates court heard how on October 17, Frith was helping Mrs Wright get dressed when she left to answer a call.

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After twenty minutes, Mrs Wright thought she had been forgotten and pressed her bell for attention.

In a statement read out to the court, Mrs Wright said: “I rang the bell and she came shooting around and grabbed hold of my arm with one hand and the back of my neck with the other.

“She said ‘I don’t come when you ring the bell. I come when I’m good and ready’.”

Frith then punched Mrs Wright in the chest and left the room, saying ‘wait there until I’m ready’.

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Prosecuting, John Cooper said Mrs Wright has been left shaken by the attack, and is still having pains in her arms.

He said: “She would like to put across that she feels the care worker should not be allowed to work with vulnerable people ever again.

“This was a most grotesque breach of trust.”

Frith, who had worked at the nursing home for five years bef0re the incident has since been dismissed. The hearing on February 20 heard how she is now working one night a week as a bartender in Ripley.

In mitigation, Matt Evans told the court that on the day of the assault, Frith, of Launds Avenue, Selston, was one of only four staff looking after 38 residents and they were all under a lot of pressure.

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He added: “It is difficult to mitigate in a case like this, but it is right to say thatshe didn’t intend to cause those injuries in any way, shape, or form.”

“The defendant is 29 years of age, with no previous convictions. I am confident in saying this is a one off.”

But handing down a sentence, Magistrate Harold Mellor, said there was no option but to send Frith to prison.

He said: “This is one of the most serious assaults to have come before this court.

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“It happened in the victim’s own room, where she should have been able to feel safe. This was a gross breach of trust.

“She’s still receiving treatment for her injuries and the psychological effects remain.”

Frith, who pleaded guilty to assault, was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison.

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