Shamed care boss spared jail

Shamed Terrence Bennett, 60, was in charge of the Elsinor home in Scarborough when members of staff began telling him of incidents of abuse by carer Tina Gillespie, 31.

But because he was romantically involved with Gillespie's mother, to protect her, he pressurised the staff to heavily edit their statements after seeing her slap an 84-year-old wheelchair-bound woman across the face.

She also pushed an elderly man with such force that his head struck a wall and shoved a woman aged 87 so hard out of a room that the pensioner's legs buckled under her.

She was eventually jailed for nine months last July after admitting the assaults – but ex-policeman Bennett avoided prison. Instead he was handed a six-month term suspended for two years.

Judge Stephen Ashurst told Bennett, who was convicted of perverting the course of justice at trial last month: "Your judgement was clouded by your relationship with Tina Gillespie’s mother.

“You put pressure on three members of staff to put forward edited statements which created a very bland account and you knew that in doing that, that would have an effect on an enquiry.

“You are left with a sense of disgrace and shame in the community. In the past you have relied on people accepting your word as being but you have yourself to blame for the actions you did.

“It will take some time before you can hold your head up high in the community.”

Bennett's trial at Teesside Crown Court heard evidence from carer Trevor Ramsey who had seen Gillespie fight a resident leaving him with bruising and fingernail marks on his chest.

However, when Bennett typed up his statement he initially refused to sign it because it claimed the resident had been aggressive – something Trevor had not seen.

He told the jury: “He told me that all he wanted was a basic statement saying how I had seen the resident being aggressive because Social Services had asked for a written statement. I felt like I was being pressurised into lying about what I had seen.”

Bennett owned the Elsinor between 1989 and 2005. He will also have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Mitigating at York Crown Court, Andrew Haslam said he was a previously well-respected figure who had tainted his reputation with an error of judgment.

He added: “He started a relationship with Tina Gillespie’s mother but with the benefit of hindsight he regrets that when members of staff were coming to him telling him of what they knew of her conduct he ought to have stopped her employment and allowed the authorities to take action against her.

“Put simply, he did not want to lose his relationship and out of misguided loyalty he tried to help Tina Gillespie out. The effect of his foolish action was profound on him. He has lost his name, his reputation and his employment."

Gillespie, of Whitby, admitted one charge of assault and three of ill-treating a person lacking capacity last year. A court heard how she left victims “injured, confused and bewildered” and robbed dementia sufferers of their dignity by inflicting serious physical abuse over a six-month period. One frail victim was seen holding his chest and shouting “get off me” as Gillespie kneeled against him.

The home is now under new ownership. Inde Degun, director of the Elsinor, said the home was fully committed to the welfare and safety of its residents.

He said: “The new management would like to make it clear that the home has significantly improved its safeguarding practices.

“The home has a zero tolerance strategy towards abuse of its residents.

“Our sincere apologies go to the residents involved and their families and we are delighted that justice has been done in relation to the ex-employees involved.”