Nurses laughed as they threw stones at dementia patients
Carers who abused residents then tried to blame colleague warned they face a prison sentence
STUDENT nurses who hurled gravel at dementia patients and pinned the blame on “confused” residents at the care home are facing prison sentences.
Abana Arshad, 23, and Amy Greenhalgh, 24, filmed themselves throwing stones at residents of Laburnum Court care home, Salford, Manchester.
In July last year they targeted up to seven vulnerable patients who were “unable to defend themselves”, laughing and joking at their distress and ignoring pleas to stop. Victims were unable to articulate who was responsible for the mistreatment through confusion brought on by their condition.
The nurses were found out when a colleague saw Arshad putting stones in her pocket from the care home’s driveway. Some were later found on the floor in victims’ rooms. When the nurses realised they were at risk of being exposed, they tried to put the blame on an innocent senior colleague and even suggested some of the residents were responsible.
Police found a series of Facebook messages in which the women advised each other to delete incriminating pictures and videos on their mobile phones, “to be on the safe side”.
Arshad then complained to Greenhalgh that someone had gone behind their back to report them, writing: “You can’t trust anyone in work, I swear.” Greenhalgh asked: “Did we get all the stones off the floor in the rooms?” Arshad responded: “Don’t think anybody will clock that. I’ll back you.”
Arshad, from Crumpsall, Manchester, was convicted of ill-treating a person without mental capacity at Manchester magistrates’ court. Greenhalgh, of Eccles, west of Manchester,
‘There were stones on the floor. I asked Abana and Amy what they were doing but they were just laughing’
admitted the same charge.
District Judge James Hatton said: “Both defendants provided care for people who had mental impairments, who lacked any capacity and would not be able to defend themselves.
“Both lied in interview and blamed each other, two colleagues and sought to shift responsibility on to other residents. They clearly knew what they were doing was wrong and amounted to ill-treatment. What other inference could I possibly draw from people that are throwing stones and laughing at people they should be caring for?
“They are as guilty as one another and they stand convicted and at risk of a custodial sentence.”
Arshad had told police that she was “just being immature” and her behaviour was “unprofessional” but that she had “learnt her lesson”. She was no longer on her nursing course. Greenhalgh told police that Arshad had a habit of throwing things at residents and that they were both being “stupid”.
Aaliyah Hussain, a senior colleague, told the hearing she suspected Arshad was behind the mistreatment when she saw her loading stones in her pockets.
She said: “I saw Abana stand up and put something into her pocket. A couple of stones dropped out of her hand.
“Upon returning one of the residents was shouting ‘stop it, why are you doing that, get away’. Abana and Amy were in the doorway. I went into the lady’s room and there were stones on the floor and in her lap. She wasn’t able to tell me what had happened, so I just reassured her. Then I could hear the resident next door shouting, ‘stop doing that, don’t throw them at me, don’t throw them at me’.
“I went into her room and there were stones on the floor. I asked Abana and Amy what they were doing but they were just laughing.”
Arshad and Greenhalgh were bailed and will be sentenced next month.