Carer jailed for Walsall patient abuse
A carer has been jailed for abusing a vulnerable patient at her home in Walsall.
Julie Hamilton, 53, from Hunts Lane in Willenhall, was secretly filmed shouting at and force-feeding 88-year-old dementia sufferer Winifred Stolarski, as well as stealing food.
She was jailed for two months at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.
She admitted one count of ill-treatment and wilful neglect. A second count is to lie on file.
The camera had been secretly installed by a colleague who was worried about Ms Stolarski's health, police said.
Ms Stolarski's son Andrew, also from Walsall, said he had been shocked to discover what had gone on.
"I didn't believe it myself until the police officers told me it had been recorded," he said.
'Lack of respect'
Detectives examined 19 clips dating from May and June 2014.
West Midlands Police said they revealed Hamilton had shown "a complete lack of respect and humanity" and had treated her patient as "an inconvenience".
In one piece of footage, police said Hamilton was seen tipping soup down the drain before signing forms to say she had fed Ms Stolarski.
Investigating officer Det Con Karen Gilman said the only time Hamilton was filmed doing her job properly was when a doctor visited.
"There was no physical abuse in this case, no aggressive manhandling or assaults, but this was deliberate neglect and I'm pleased the seriousness of Hamilton's actions has been reflected in a term of imprisonment," she said.
West Midlands Police said Hamilton had immediately resigned from her job after seeing the footage, telling managers she was "disgusted" with herself.