A senior care home worker assaulted a 95-year-old dementia patient, leaving her covered in bruises, and told her: “Stop being a brat.”
Davina Bissett said she was trying to teach the woman a lesson as she twice pulled at her wrists and pinned her to a bed at Moncreiffe Care Home in Bridge of Earn.
The assault, witnessed by a colleague, ended when Bissett threw a duvet over the terrified pensioner’s head.
Shocking images released by the Crown Office show dark bruises across her victim’s shoulders and arms.
Bissett, of Newburgh, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting the resident to her injury at the Main Street care home on March 29.
The 53-year-old, who had been a senior carer at the complex for 16 years, was fined £600.
Victim mouthed ‘help’ to colleague
Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court: “At 5pm, another member of staff was tasked with giving the complainer her dinner.
“At this time, she confirmed there was no bruising to her body.
“Between 7pm and 8pm, the accused was tending to the complainer.
“She had pressed the call assistance button and another member of staff made her way to the room.”
The staff member heard Bissett say: “Will you stop it? Stop hitting me. Do as you’re told.”
When she entered the room, the colleague saw the pensioner lying on her back on the bed.
Ms Wilkinson said: “The complainer kicked out in the direction of the accused, but did not make contact.
“The accused then grabbed the complainer’s leg and pushed it back onto the bed.
“The complainer took hold of the other carer’s arm and mouthed ‘help’ to her.
“It was the staff member’s opinion that the complainer was scared of the accused and she was holding on to her.”
The fiscal depute added: “The accused attempted to roll the complainer onto her side to put new bedsheets on.
“However, the complainer wriggled around on the bed, making this task difficult.
“The accused was then seen taking hold of both of complainer’s wrists, pulling them across her chest and pushing them into the complainer’s shoulders, pinning her onto the bed.
“The other carer was not happy with what she had witnessed and asked the accused to leave the room to allow her to calm down but the accused refused.”
Bissett said: “No, I’ve started so I’ll finish. She needs to learn to behave.”
Ms Wilkinson said: “The accused then attempted to roll the complainer onto her side again.”
Bissett told her victim: “Stop being a brat.”
The court heard that she pinned the woman to the bed again in the same way as before.
“The accused released the complainer who attempted to sit up,” said the fiscal depute.
“The accused then threw the duvet over the complainer, covering her head and proceeded to tidy the room.”
Police, social workers and the Care Inspectorate were alerted and Bissett, of Banklands, was suspended with immediate effect.
Out of character
Solicitor Jamie Baxter, defending, said Bissett had been looking after her victim for five years.
“This was very much out of character for someone who has devoted a substantial part of her life to caring for individuals.
“She is extremely remorseful for her actions and the last thing she would have wished is to have caused any distress or anxiety to this individual.
“She had a close, emotional and dare I say it, loving relationship with this woman.”
Sheriff Gillian Wade told Bissett: “This is clearly a most regrettable incident, very much from your own perspective but also from the perspective of the 95-year-old woman who was the victim in this case.
“I take into account that you were in a position of trust and that, despite this matter, you had a very good record.
“However, this position of trust is important.
“The public needs to understand that those caring for our elderly people will do so in a responsible way.
“On this day, your behaviour fell way short of what was expected and amounted to a criminal offence.”
Since the incident, businessman John Bryden announced the closure of the care home.
He blamed a “perfect storm” of factors for the “heart breaking” decision to shut the facility, which has been part of the village since the mid-1980s.
Nearly 40 staff were affected by the move.
