Winterbourne View: Abuser was once kindest girl in school
A CARE home worker who has admitted ill-treating a vulnerable resident once won an award for being the kindest pupil at her school.
Bristol Crown Court was told that Holly Draper had been known as a caring youngster and it was "inexplicable" that she had got involved with the incidents of abuse captured by an undercover television reporter at Winterbourne View residential hospital near Bradley Stoke.
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Holly Draper
Noel Sweeney, defending Draper, said that, aged ten, his client had won an award at her junior school in Nailsea, for being the kindest pupil.
Mr Sweeney said his client was a caring person who had looked after a seven-year-old autistic child when she was aged 16.
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He said Draper had no training for her job at Winterbourne View and was "sucked into the vacuum of the Castlebeck culture" where patients were seen as "walking dollar signs".
Frances Taylor, Draper's former teacher at Nailsea School, said Draper was a compliant, willing and caring girl with a glowing school record.
The court heard that Draper and co-defendants Alison Dove and Graham Doyle were recorded holding care home resident Simone Blake down as nurse Sookalingum Appoo forced medication into her mouth, causing her to spit and splutter.
Appoo was also present when Miss Blake was pinned to the floor by a chair, and he said nothing.
Kate Brunner, defending Appoo, said her client had pleaded guilty to neglecting Miss Blake, by standing by and doing nothing when she was ill-treated by others. She said Appoo joined Winterbourne View Hospital four months before the events.
Ms Brunner said: "Whilst he colluded with the culture it was not a culture of his creation.
"He was a lower rank of nurse.
"He didn't feel older and wiser. He felt older and powerless."
Charge nurse Kelvin Fore was filmed near a screaming Miss Blake in a shower room, where water was thrown at her.
The court also saw support worker Wayne Rogers admit on video to Fore that he tipped a jug of water on Miss Blake and thought he had better get her inside "before she gets blue" with cold.
Fiona Elder, defending Fore, said the nurse of 33 years' previously unblemished service "has found himself in a situation where he has acted against his principles as well as the law".
Draper, 24, of The Old Orchard, Mangotsfield, pleaded guilty to two charges of ill-treating Simone Blake.
Doyle, 26, of Brackendene, Bradley Stoke, has admitted seven charges of ill-treating Miss Blake.
Jason Gardiner, 43, of Mellent Avenue, Hartcliffe, admitted two charges of ill-treating Louisa Deville and Simon Tovey.
Danny Brake, 27, of Beechen Drive, Fishponds, admits to two counts of ill-treating Miss Blake and Mr Tovey.
Appoo, 59, of Dial Lane, Downend, admitted three charges of wilfully neglecting Miss Blake.
Rogers, 32, of Purton Close, Kingswood, pleaded guilty to nine charges of ill-treating Louisa Deville, Mr Tovey and Miss Blake.
Dove, 25, of Chipperfield Drive, Kingswood, admits seven charges of ill-treating Lorraine Guildford, Louise Bissett and Miss Blake.
Fore, 33, of Middlesbrough, admits one charge of wilfully neglecting Miss Blake.
The case continues.
Comments
by Bristolexpat
Thursday, October 25 2012, 8:17PM
“14 years is a long time. People change.
This one changed into a fat, vicious, vile *****....
What's so "inconceivable" about that?”
by allananlyn
Thursday, October 25 2012, 4:42PM
“past kindness is no excuse, you did the crime so accept your punishment”
by noyes
Thursday, October 25 2012, 2:04PM
“"Patients were seen as 'walking dollar signs'". Wow, has the UK changed its currency?”
by allananlyn
Thursday, October 25 2012, 1:50PM
“this abuse went on for along time, if they weren't caught they would still be abusing these vulnerable people, it is a little late for remorse now,
also in the article it states that one of the defendants plead guilty to standing by and watching whilst the abuse took place, surely management are guilty of the same crime and so should also be brought to justice”
by allananlyn
Thursday, October 25 2012, 1:43PM
“it states in the article that one of the defendants plead guilty of standing by and watching whilst the abuse took place, surely management are guilty of the same thing and should also be brought to justice.”
by Troubled
Thursday, October 25 2012, 1:34PM
“Its amazing how people try to justify their actions with all this drivel, they were caught out time and again for abusing the people they were paid to look after, it wasn't just a one off.
Mr Appoo had only been in his positions at the home for 4 months, that makes it even worse, he went into the job with a fresh pair of eyes, he should have put a stop to it.
He was a "lower rank of nurse", what does that mean, you are either a nurse or you are not, I bet he didn't mind the nursing/management salary that came with it though.”
by Mikeykay
Thursday, October 25 2012, 1:30PM
“@ wirralp
Agree 100% with everything you said, well put!”
by allananlyn
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:48PM
“wonder what mediocre sentences get passed down??”
by winford
Thursday, October 25 2012, 10:58AM
“Won an award for being kindest person in school !!!!! I passed 'O' level needlework but I don't sew !!!!!! Give them the toughest sentences that thay can have.”
by wirralp
Thursday, October 25 2012, 10:44AM
“It's good that these people are facing justice. But where are the managers who presided over and enabled this cruelty? The people who ignored the brave whistleblower - will they EVER be brought to book?
Or will the Castlebeck organisation be allowed to get away with it, and do it all again, and escape justice again in the future?
I imagine the only lesson they will learn will be to screen people for cameras at all of their "care" homes to avoid "reputational damage" in the future.
This is an utter, utter disgrace.”