UK-based caregiver abuses elderly patient, convicted after hidden camera footage

A Nigerian caregiver abuses elderly patient and caught on camera against an 88-year-old dementia patient, receiving a suspended sentence

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] UK-based caregiver abuses elderly patient. Bilikesu Olagunju, was captured on a hidden camera violently abusing an 88-year-old dementia patient, John Attard.

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This shocking incident occurred just days before the elderly man’s death, bringing to light a disturbing case of elder mistreatment. The footage has led to a conviction.

According to Mail Online, the distressing incident took place on Christmas Eve 2022 at Attard’s home in Bexley, Kent.

Olagunju, who had been employed as a carer for merely six days by Unique Personnel UK, was secretly recorded by a camera.

The device had been discreetly installed by the victim’s son, Chris Attard, who harboured concerns about his father’s care.

The chilling footage revealed Olagunju’s aggressive behaviour towards the frail pensioner.

It showed her forcibly stripping him, threatening to beat him, and callously ignoring his repeated cries of pain, demonstrating a profound lack of empathy.

Her actions were captured in disturbing detail, providing irrefutable evidence of the abuse.

At one point during the recorded abuse, Olagunju verbally threatened the vulnerable man.

She was heard telling him, “Maybe I will beat you up. I will flog you. I will take you to the GP to get injections. I will call the police on you,” words that caused immense distress to the elderly patient and revealed her menacing intent.

Further instances of mistreatment were also visible in the footage. Olagunju was seen pouring marmalade into Attard’s coffee, despite being fully aware of his diabetes, an act that could have serious health implications for someone with his condition.

She was also observed dragging him forcefully by the arm and collar, leaving him visibly distressed and in discomfort.

On Christmas morning, immediately following the documented abuse, John Attard was discovered unresponsive with blood visible on his face.

He was promptly taken to the hospital, where he remained unconscious. Sadly, he passed away ten days later, raising serious questions about the connection between the abuse and his sudden decline.

While a post-mortem examination could not definitively link the abuse directly to his death, the timing of the violent incidents raised serious concerns among his family and authorities.

The proximity of the abuse to his rapid health deterioration and eventual passing fueled suspicions and prompted a thorough investigation into the incident.

Olagunju subsequently pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to one count of ill-treatment or wilful neglect of a person lacking mental capacity.

This plea acknowledged her culpability in the distressing events captured on camera. Her admission of guilt brought a formal conclusion to the criminal aspect of the case.

For her actions, Bilikesu Olagunju was handed a six-week prison sentence. However, this sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning she would not serve immediate time in prison unless she violated the terms of her suspension.

Additionally, she was ordered to complete 50 hours of unpaid community service, a punitive measure for her neglect and ill-treatment of the vulnerable patient.

Reacting to the court’s verdict, John Attard’s son, Chris Attard, expressed profound disappointment and called the sentence “an insult.”

He strongly insisted that Olagunju’s egregious actions played a direct and significant role in his father’s tragic death, advocating for a more severe punishment given the gravity of the abuse and its temporal proximity to the death.

This case highlights the critical need for stringent oversight and robust safeguarding measures within the care industry, particularly for vulnerable individuals like dementia patients.

The use of hidden cameras, while sometimes controversial, proved instrumental in uncovering the hidden abuse in this instance, providing crucial evidence where victims cannot speak for themselves.

The case serves as a stark reminder of such vulnerabilities.

The emotional and psychological toll on the victim’s family is immeasurable, as they grapple with the knowledge of their loved one’s suffering in his final days.

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The outcome of the legal process, while concluding the criminal proceedings, has left the family feeling that justice has not been fully served given the profound impact on their father’s life and death.