A care home nurse from Romford was jailed today after being secretly filmed manhandling and poking a 92-year-old dementia patient in the face and telling her to shut up.
Faderera Grace Bello, 54, of Southern Way, Romford, was sentenced to four months imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court after admitting a charge of carer ill treatment/wilful neglect, contrary to Section 44 Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Her victim, 92-year-old Bridget Rees, resided at a nursing home in Nuttall Street, Shoreditch, where Bello was a staff nurse at the time of the offence.
She suffered from dementia and was wholly dependent for all her needs.
Following Bello’s jailing today, her family released a statement saying they were “disappointed” with the sentence.
On Tuesday October 1 last year, the victim’s daughter, Veronica Davis, noticed bruising on her mother’s arms.
She discussed this find with the manager of the nursing home but was told the bruising was most likely to be due to the victim’s various medications.
Unconvinced by the explanation given, Bridget’s family purchased a covert camera and concealed it in her room.
The camera was a motion sensor camera and captured footage was viewed by the family.
The content of the camera was subsequently viewed and revealed that on December 6 Bello was seen to abuse the victim.
Bello was heard telling the victim to shut up and shut your mouth on numerous occasions.
She was also seen to manhandle the victim in an inappropriately heavy handed manner, at one point poking the victim in the head and face.
The family took the film to the home’s senior management who immediately suspended the nurse and launched an investigation.
They also contacted the police.
On January 30 Bello was dismissed by Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust due to gross misconduct, with immediate effect. The decision was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Care Quality Commission.
The footage was subsequently passed to Hackney’s Community Safety Unit and on 6 February Bello was arrested at her home address on suspicion of ABH.
Detective Inspector Ian Fleming, from Hackney’s Community Safety Unit, said: “The prison sentenced imposed on Grace Bello today, concludes an investigation that was brought to the attention of Hackney Borough Police by family members of the victim.
“It was diligently and sensitively investigated by Detective Constable Cat Mason from the Community Safety Unit, with the full support of the victim’s relatives and the Homerton Trust.
“The MPS are committed to safeguarding adults in our community and will continue our partnership approach to seek such positive outcomes.”
The family of Bridget Rees said: “Although the family are very disappointed with the sentence given out today, we are pleased that this matter has been investigated fully by the police and brought to the Crown Court.
“This should never have happened and we fully support any moves to install CCTV in nursing/care homes in the UK”.
On February 6 Bello was charged with carer ill treatment/wilful neglect of a person without capacity.
She pleaded guilty to the offence at Thames Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 25.
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