Care worker taped up man's mouth

Abel Bellary and Josephine Apalisok had denied assault by beating

A care worker who, with a colleague, taped up the mouth of a dying dementia patient to silence him has been given a 12-week suspended sentence.

Josephine Apalisok, 47, verbally abused 89-year-old Derek Maynard at Kings Park Community Hospital in Bournemouth, town magistrates heard.

Mr Maynard died four days later in 2008, although not as a direct result.

Apalisok and and Abel Bellary, 58, both of Bournemouth, denied assault by beating but were convicted last month.

The married mother-of-three's sentence was suspended for two years and she was ordered to pay £400 costs.

Cruel actions

She was also given 200 hours community service.

Sentencing Apalisok, chairman of the bench Michael Joseph, said: "The care you provided fell far short of your professional responsibility.

"Your actions were both inexcusable and cruel."

He was told in a harsh manner if he wanted to go to bed he would have to lie on the floor Dr Alieun Jobarteh, prosecuting

Bellary is due to be sentenced on 10 November.

Dr Alieun Jobarteh, prosecuting, said that both defendants had ridiculed Mr Maynard who also suffered from advanced heart disease and lung cancer.

He said: "He was told in a harsh manner if he wanted to go to bed he would have to lie on the floor."

But Naomi Reese, defending Apalisok, who moved from the Philippines to the UK in January 2003, said: "This is totally out of character for Mrs Apalisok. She has had nothing but an exemplary record."

Both Bellary and Apalisok were subsequently suspended and have since been sacked from Dorset HealthCare NHS Foundation Trust.

In statement Jane Elson, director of older peoples mental health services at the trust, said: "We were shocked and upset by the allegations, last year, relating to these two individuals.

"I would like to offer a heartfelt assurance that this incident is an isolated case - we will do everything in our power to ensure that our patients continue to be cared for with the utmost dignity and respect."

She added that the trust's senior staff had met the patient's family since the incident came to light.