Heckmondwike care home staff guilty of neglect after OAP left naked on the floor for 14 hours after fall

Two carers of a vulnerable OAP who might have survived had they provided "appropriate medical assistance" have been found guilty of wilful neglect.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Dec 2019, 11:03 BST

Updated 2nd Dec 2019, 11:33 BST

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Kaniz Rashid and Margaret Shires found victim David Hustler lying "naked" and "distressed" on the ground after the 75-year-old activated an alarm after suffering a fall.

Mr Hustler, who had dementia and Alzheimer's, had been left lying naked on the floor in a "distressed" and "confused" state for 14 hours before he was seen.

A court previously heard Rashid, 51, Shires, 63, returned him to bed without making a record of his fall or any report to senior staff about his condition.

Margaret Shires, 62, and Kaniz Rashid, 50, leave Leeds Crown Court, West Yorks., after the first day of their hearing accused of causing the death of David Hustler, 76, by neglect at his care home in Heckmondwike (Picture SWNS)

Margaret Shires, 62, and Kaniz Rashid, 50, leave Leeds Crown Court, West Yorks., after the first day of their hearing accused of causing the death of David Hustler, 76, by neglect at his care home in Heckmondwike (Picture SWNS)

Jurors returned a verdict of guilty of 'wilful neglect of an individual by a care worker'.

Jennifer Greene, 63, was found not guilty of the same charge.

Rashid and Shires have been released on unconditional bail until January 31, 2020 when they will be sentenced.

Addressing the guilty defendants at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Edward Bindloss said: "The jury have found you guilty.

"The next stage in the case is the sentence, which will take place on January 31st.

"I now release you on unconditional bail. You are free to go."

During the trial it was heard the morning after Mr Hustler, a resident at Meadow Green Lodge, near Dewsbury, had been attended by Rashid and Shires, a different carer found Mr Hustler "clearly unwell" and he was rushed to hospital.

He was diagnosed with pneumonia, which he died from days later on October 28, 2015.

Prosecutor Katherine Robinson said, according to the opinion of a consultant physician and geriatrician, the care given to Mr Hustler amounted to "gross neglect".

Miss Robinson told the jury Rashid and Shires visited Mr Hustler at the end of a long shift and both agreed if they were to call an ambulance it would have taken up to four hours to arrive.

She said: "The truth, we say, is they simply did not want to wait. They did not care enough about Mr Hustler's very obvious needs and wanted to go home.

"If appropriate medical assistance had been sought by Rashid and Shires... his chances of survival would have improved."