Prosecutors call for severe sentences for Winterbourne View 11
PROSECUTORS are calling for severe sentences for those who have pleaded guilty to ill treating patients at the Winterbourne View care home.
The last member of an 11-strong group pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court, meaning there will now not be a trial in the case, which was sparked by an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme last year.
Michael Ezenagu, 29, of White City, London, had denied abuse charges and was set to stand trial, but pleaded guilty to two charges of ill treating a woman patient in a dramatic turnaround at Bristol Crown Court.
Instead of a high-profile court case, the spotlight will now be focused on a massive sentencing hearing involving all defendants, projected to last as long as five days, including the showing of secret filming and testimony from an undercover reporter.
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And a parent of a patient initially thought to have been a victim told the Post: "I can't even comment on how I feel against them. I hope they get their just deserts. I hope the judge gives them the maximum possible sentence that he can give."
Avon and Somerset police made arrests after secret filming by Panorama showed vulnerable adults at Winterbourne View, in Bradley Stoke, apparently being punched, slapped and taunted by carers.
The private hospital was closed by its owners after undercover footage appeared to show vulnerable residents being pinned down, doused in water and taunted.
Ann Reddrop, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's South West Complex Casework Unit, said: "Safety and security, and the ability to live free from fear and harassment, are fundamental human rights. The kind of offending that took place at Winterbourne View undermined these rights in an appalling and systematically brutal way.
"The CPS has treated these as disability hate crimes, which we regard as particularly serious. Disability hate crimes are based on ignorance, prejudice and hate. Disabled people can be victims of crime due to their perceived vulnerability, particularly where there is an unequal relationship such as where the offender is the victim's carer.
"At Winterbourne View, people who should have been able to trust their carers had that trust cruelly and repeatedly abused.
"The CPS will ask Judge Ford QC to take account of the fact that these are disability hate crimes when determining the sentence for the defendants. As such he is able to impose an uplift in sentence to reflect the seriousness of this type of crime."
Detective Chief Superintendent Louisa Rolfe said: "I wish to acknowledge the support and patience of the victims and their families throughout our inquiry. We were shocked by the Panorama programme, as many people were. The voice of the victim has been central to our investigation into this case.
"The investigation has always been about the criminal actions of 11 individuals working at Winterbourne View. The Serious Case Review, published today will consider all other concerns regarding this hospital.
"The 11 individuals abused the trust of victims and that of their relatives and friends. They have all pleaded guilty to criminal offences of ill treatment and neglect as detailed within the Mental Health Act.
"Had it not been for the actions of individuals who raised concerns about the neglect and cruelty suffered by victims, this wholly unacceptable behaviour would have continued unchecked.
"We now await sentencing which will bring the criminal justice process to a final conclusion."
The group of 11 carers were charged with some 45 counts alleging ill treatment or neglect against five victims in February and March last year.
Charlotte Cotterell, 22, of Melrose Avenue, Yate, pleaded guilty to ill treating a woman patient.
Alison Dove, 25, of Chipperfield Drive, Kingswood, pleaded guilty to ill treating two women patients and five ill treatments of another woman patient.
Wayne Rogers, 32, of Purton Close, Kingswood, pleaded guilty to nine counts of ill treatment involving two women and a man.
Neil Ferguson, 27, of Guest Avenue, Emersons Green, admitted ill treating a patient but denied ill treating a woman on March 13.
Sookalingum Appoo, a 59-year-old nurse, of Dial Lane, Downend, admitted three counts of wilfully neglecting a woman patient.
Kelvin Fore, a nurse, 33, of Ellesmere Walk, Middlesbrough, admitted wilfully neglecting a woman patient but denied a similar charge.
Jason Gardiner, 43, of Mellent Avenue, Hartcliffe, admitted ill treating a man and a woman patient on one occasion.
Graham Doyle, 26, of Bradley Road, Patchway, denied wilful neglect of one woman patient and ill treating a man patient once but admitted ill treating a woman on seven occasions.
Daniel Brake, 27, of Beechen Drive, Fishponds, admitted ill treating a man and a woman patient on consecutive days.
Holly Draper, 23, of The Old Orchard, Mangotsfield, pleaded guilty to two charges of ill treating a woman patient.
All 11 defendants have been granted bail with the condition that they are not allowed to work or seek work with vulnerable people.
The sentencing date is due to be fixed this Friday.
Comments
by welshie30
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 10:43PM
“Its a hate crime as its against people who have been marginalised and treated as less than human by the very people who should be supportive and caring towards them. The defintion of a learning disability is an IQ below 70 and for some diminished capacity in basic life skills and decision making (Its not about being able bodied as mentioned by the last post). Due to this reason as a civilised society we should be protecting and safeguarding such individuals, the response of outside agencies was shambolic at best and this could have been picked up much earlier through safeguarding. Anyone who can't see how utterly sickening these acts of violence were towards people who could not advocate for themseleves, ought to spend some time examining their own conscience. Also I really don't see how this relates to white sumpremacy and racial arguements save that for the message boards for the BNP British Nationalist Party a.k.a Brains Not Present.”
by Craigthatsme
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 7:40PM
“This was a good day (fortnight) to bury bad news?
Do you know tens millions of pounds of Council Tax Payers Money are spent on religious youth groups, church hall's, free parking and transport to schools Ect, ect each year.
While there opponents from the Gay Community receive nothing. Yes there are still young vulnerable people in South Glos who receive no funding at all. They are forced to defend themselves in schools and the larger the community because South Glos Council refuses to acknowledge their existence.
Amanda Deeks, Chief Executive should resign!”
by swrural
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 12:20PM
“Jceegas wrote:
"we will see how brave these animals are when they are sent to prison.........i am sure you will get what you deserve watch your backs ha ha ha ha ha"
One sees this a lot nowadays in comment columns. People encouraging a further crime to be committed in prison by fellow inmates (or prison officers). I think this is also a crime so I encourage police to investigate this.”
by BishopstonMan
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 10:52AM
“The care sector pays badly, there is no real profit to be made there and so the private sector homes cut the service to the bone and hire apes like the ones on display above. Having said that I'd like to echo ciderdog's sentiments that there are a hardcore of professional and caring carers and nurses who do an excellent job. It is hoped that the care sector will be scrutinized more closely before the massive numbers of the baby boomers of the '50s and '60s become too old to look after themselves.”
by Supersnakes
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 10:37AM
“As the father of a special needs child, I can assure you, as any parent, I want the best for them. I think the whistleblowers and BBC need too be congratulated for the work they have done exposing these people. A crime against anyone who isn't in a position to defend themselves is abhorrent.
Having worked in a prison, they are in for a shock.”
by winford
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 10:22AM
“To me - one word sum them up - SCUM. Lets hope that they all get their 'just desserts' in prison. They are nothing less than muck on the bottom of shoes.”
by Cider_Dog
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 9:57AM
“Looking at the state of these 'carers' I'd have real concerns about the standard of training and selection on offer.
This rogues gallery would be more suited to working in a tattoo or piercing parlor and even then I would let one of them anywhere near me or mine.
My grandparents both passed away this year in a care home, the staff were wonderful, warm-hearted, considerate and supportive.
This bunch of selfish, cruel and dishonest scum deserve a severe punishment. It would break my heart if any of these vermin were 'caring' for my loved ones.
Shame on them, they have really dragged their occupation down into the dirt.
There are many, many wonderful carers in the UK, don't be misled by these sadistic, brain dead moronic filth. They all look like they need the 'care' themselves and should not be allowed anywhere near people in need.”
by 780715JVB1
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 9:48AM
“@Alpin - your comments are absolutely spot on. My concern with this trial is that it has focused almost exclusively on the individuals concerned and not the regulator or the institution which they worked in which was, at best, allowing this ignorant behaviour to happen right under it's nose.
There are some things very wrong with the care system, both for disabled adults and the elderly and Winterbourne could easily be the first of many cases to come to light.”
by jceegas
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 8:23AM
“we will see how brave these animals are when they are sent to prison.........i am sure you will get what you deserve watch your backs ha ha ha ha ha”
by Alpin
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 7:27AM
“One of the main failures was by the health care regulator CQC failure to see what was going on. The failure was due to lack of visits to winterbourne view and a long winded process for contacting the inspector responsible for winterbourne. It can also be down to the skills of the inspector, did they work people with learning difficulties before becoming an inspector? And is it alwyas the same inspector so that they can build up trust and rapport with some of the staff and residents?
Also carers get paid the minimum wage and receive the minimum training. so we also have inappropriately trained carers...
WARNING winbterbourne view is just the first whilst CQC continues to focus on NHS hospital type inspections, not allocate specialists to specialist services. and not carry out frequent unannounced inspections. ALSO paying carers the minimum wage.”