Carer sentenced after neglecting elderly resident in Northwich

A carer who wilfully neglected an elderly man at a care home in Northwich has been jailed.

Vangirai Michael Kufa appeared at Chester Crown Court today, Thursday 27 June, where he was sentenced to nine months in prison.

The 40-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of ill-treating a person without mental capacity.

The victim, a 67-year-old man, was a resident at Avandale Lodge, a HC One Care Home in Northwich.

In December 2017 the victim was assessed by healthcare professionals, who determined that he required one-to-one care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A care package was subsequently put in place by Last Minute Nursing, who allocated Kufa as one of the victim’s carers, under the supervision of the care home. 

Kufa, of Bark Road, Litherland, worked in the care industry for more than 10 years.

Over the coming months the victim’s family became aware of a number of worrying incidents. These included him falling out of bed whilst receiving one-to-one care.

Concerned for their loved one’s welfare, the family installed a camera in his room.

The camera captured Kafu wilfully neglecting the victim on Wednesday 28 February.

It showed Kufa using his phone and paying no attention to the victim as he lay in bed. 

When the victim tried to get his attention, Kufa elbowed him in the back and hit him in the groin four times.

Kufa also clenched his fist and made sudden movements towards the victim, before moving him from his bed and into a chair without using the correct equipment. 

After viewing the footage, the victim’s family reported the incident to Last Minute Nursing and Cheshire Constabulary.

Following today’s sentencing, Detective Constable Chris Percival, of Northwich CID, said: “The victim’s family placed their trust in Kufa to look after and care for their father in his dying days – and he totally abused this trust.

“The victim was suffering from a rare debilitating disease and had moved to the home to receive the specialist care and support that he required. 

“However, Kufa was more interested in his phone than he was of doing his job of looking after the elderly man.

“During questioning he even admitted that he had not read the victim’s care plan, despite the fact that he had been working as his carer for more than a month.

“Sadly, the victim in this case has since passed away as a result of his illness and will never know that his abuser has now been brought to justice for what he subjected him to.

“However, I hope that Kufa’s conviction will allow the victim’s family to move forward with their lives, knowing that he will never be able to subject any other family to such an appalling experience.”