Nursing home workers 'tormented' resident

VICTORIA JOHNSON

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

AN OLDHAM woman and a colleague have admitted neglecting or mistreating elderly people in their care following a "dementia doll" abuse row at a Middleton nursing home.

Victoria Johnson (23), of Cowlishaw Lane, Shaw, and Shauna Higgin (20), of Eliot Walk, Middleton, will be sentenced next month after each admitting two counts of ill-treating or wilfully neglecting an elderly resident at Ashbourne House Nursing Home last year.

Officers were alerted to a number of images taken by staff in January.

It was alleged that vulnerable residents had been tormented by abuse of "therapy" dolls used by those with dementia and Alzheimer's.

Higgin and Johnson were quizzed by officers before being charged in relation to incidents between December 1 and 26 last year.

They were due to stand trial next year after a plea hearing earlier in July, but will now be sentenced together next month.

The pair faced identical charges ­- four counts of a care worker ill-treating or wilfully neglecting an individual.

Each count related to a resident at Ashbourne House during their time there as care workers.

When they appeared at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on July 29, Johnson pleaded guilty to two of the four counts, while Higgin pleaded not guilty to each.

The pair were due to appear before a jury in February, but the trial has been vacated after Higgin changed her pleas.

In a brief appearance before Judge Andrew Lowcock, Higgin pleaded guilty to two of the four counts ­- one of which related to the same elderly resident Johnson had admitted mistreating.

The pair will be sentenced in relation to their two guilty pleas on November 21. It is understood the remaining counts are likely to lie on file.