A senior carer who attacked a bed-bound 95-year-old dementia sufferer told another member of staff she was teaching her victim a lesson. Davina Bissett, 53, faces being struck off after she admitted carrying out an assault which left her vulnerable victim covered in bruises.
A less senior member of staff reported Bissett after she refused to stop attacking Margaret McAuly in Moncrieff Nursing and Residential Home in Bridge of Earn, Perthshire. Bissett told her colleague: "No, I've started so I'll finish. She needs to learn to behave." She then warned her victim: "Stop being a brat."
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Bissett was immediately suspended and subsequently sacked after 16 years working as a senior carer at the home. Bissett, Newburgh, Fife, admitted assaulting Ms McAuly on March 24 this year by seizing her wrists and pulling her arms across her body, trying to roll her and repeatedly pinning her to the bed, throwing a duvet over her head and injuring her.
Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court: "The complainer suffers from dementia and does not have capacity. She was very frail and not deemed to be a risk to staff."
She said Bissett's colleague had been feeding Ms McAuly at 5pm and had not seen any bruising on her body. Between 7 and 8pm she went to the room to help Bissett change the pensioner's clothing.
"On approach, she heard the accused saying 'will you stop it, stop hitting me, do as you're told.' The colleague saw the complainer lying on her back and she kicked out at the accused but did not make contact.
"The accused grabbed the complainer's leg and pushed it back onto the bed. The complainer took hold of the colleague's arm and yelled 'help' to her. She appeared scared of the accused and held tightly to the other carer. The accused tried to roll the complainer onto her side to put new bed sheets on.
"However, the complainer wriggled around, making it difficult. The accused took hold of both wrists, pulled them across her chest and pushed them into the complainer's shoulders, pinning her to the bed. The other carer wasn't happy at what she witnessed and asked the accused to leave the room to allow her to calm down, but the accused refused.
"The accused pinned the complainer against the bed again. She released the complainer, who started to sit up. The accused threw the duvet over the complainer. This covered her head. The Care Inspectorate, social work and the police were alerted and she was immediately suspended. As a result of this, the complainer suffered injuries."
Solicitor Jamie Baxter, defending, said: "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. She lost her job. She will be struck off because she has admitted this offence."
Mr Baxter said Bissett had worked at the home for 16 years and had spent five years being the member of staff who primarily looked after Ms McAuly. He said she was not aware of being the subject of any previous complaint and felt she was doing her best to manage the situation as the senior staff member.
Sheriff Gillian Wade fined Bissett £600 and told her: "This was a very regrettable incident. I have to take into account that you were in a significant position of trust. You lost your employment and that will be punishment for you. It is important that the public understands those caring for vulnerable people do so in an appropriate way.
"Your behaviour fell well short of what was expected."
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