A Nigerian caregiver, Bilikesu Olagunju, has been sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, for violently abusing an 88-year-old dementia patient, John Attard, in his own home in Bexley, Kent, United Kingdom.
The abuse, which occurred on Christmas Eve 2022, was captured by hidden CCTV cameras secretly installed by the victim’s son, and later submitted as evidence in court.
Abuse Caught on Camera
Footage played at Woolwich Crown Court showed the 42-year-old caregiver dragging the elderly man across the floor, shouting at him, and threatening to beat and “flog” him while ignoring his cries of pain.
She was also seen stripping him in public view, pouring marmalade into his coffee despite his diabetes, and spilling hot liquid on him during breakfast.
When Attard fell, she defied orders from her employer and tried lifting him herself.
“She is lifting him like a rag doll,” said the victim’s son, Chris Attard, who discovered his father unresponsive the following morning with blood on his face.
Attard was rushed to the hospital but died 10 days later.
A post-mortem found no direct link between the abuse and his death, but his family believes the trauma contributed.
Courtroom Reactions and Sentencing
Judge Charlotte Welsh slammed the care agency, Unique Personnel UK, for assigning an untrained caregiver to a vulnerable dementia patient, calling it “a failure to protect the dignity and safety of a helpless man.”
Olagunju, who had worked for the agency for only six days, wept quietly in court.
Her lawyer, Mr. Tijani, said she was “ashamed”, citing mental distress and a lack of experience.
She was ordered to:
Serve 6 weeks in prison (suspended for 18 months)
Complete 50 hours of community service
Remain under strict supervision
Family Calls for Accountability
Chris Attard expressed outrage at the lenient sentence, saying:
“What kind of deterrent is that? That woman is out of my head now — my mission is to expose the care agency.”
He accused Unique Personnel UK of negligence and demanded reform in caregiver vetting and training.
“Where were the checks? Where was the training? This is a care agency sending unqualified people into homes of the vulnerable.”
