11 people have been sentenced for ill-treating patients at the Winterbourne View care home near Bristol. Ann Reddrop, Head of the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit, said:
“Every member of society has the right to live free from intimidation and fear, but the offending that took place at Winterbourne View undermined that right in an appalling and systematically brutal way. People who should have been able to trust their carers had that trust cruelly and repeatedly abused.
“The CPS treated these offences as disability hate crimes, crimes based on ignorance, prejudice and hate, and we brought this aggravating factor to the attention of the court. The CPS works closely with the police and other agencies to tackle hate crimes and will always prosecute where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.
“Today’s sentences send a clear message to those who believe there will be no consequences for their abuse of disabled people.”
Sentences
Wayne Stuart Rogers was given an immediate custodial sentence totalling 2 years, less time already spent in custody, for nine counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Alison Dove was given an immediate custodial sentence totalling 20 months, less time already spent in custody, for seven counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Graham Doyle was given an immediate custodial sentence totalling 20 months for seven counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Holly Laura Draper was given an immediate custodial sentence totalling 12 months for two counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Sookalingum Appoo was given an immediate custodial sentence totalling 6 months for three counts of Hospital/care home staff neglecting patient
Kelvin Fore was given an immediate custodial sentence totalling 6 months for two counts of Hospital/care home staff neglecting patient
Michael Onyema Ezenagu was sentenced to a total of six months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, plus 200 hours of unpaid work, for two counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating a patient
Jason Gardiner was sentenced to a total of four months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, plus 200 hours of unpaid work, for two counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Daniel Brake was sentenced to a total of four months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, plus 200 hours of unpaid work, for two counts of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Neil Ferguson was sentenced to a total of six months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, plus 200 hours of unpaid work, for one count of Hospital/care home staff ill treating patient
Charlotte Justine Cotterell was sentenced to a total of four months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, plus 150 hours of unpaid work, for one count of Hospital/care home staff ill treating a patient
Note: This post was amended on 8 November 2012 to remove a reference to the basis of the defendants' sentences, which is a matter for the court.
