An 88-year-old dementia patient, John Attard, was violently abused by his UK-based Nigerian carer, Bilikesu Olagunju, just days before his death, a footage has revealed.
According to a UK based news outlet, Mail Online on Monday, the incident happened on Christmas Eve 2022 at the victim’s residence in Bexley, Kent.
Olagunju, who had been on the job for only six days, was caught on camera manhandling the frail pensioner, dragging him like a rag doll, stripping him, and ignoring his repeated pleas that she was hurting him.
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At one point, she threatened: “Maybe I will beat you up. I will flog you. I will take you to the GP to get injections. I will call the police on you.”
The CCTV footage, filmed in the victim’s home on Christmas Eve using a hidden camera installed by his son Chris, captured the 45-minute ordeal.
She was also seen pouring marmalade into the diabetic man’s coffee, further worsening his condition. In another moment, she violently dragged him by the arm and collar, causing visible distress.
On Christmas morning, Mr Attard was found unresponsive with blood dripping from his face. He was rushed to hospital, where he remained unconscious until his death ten days later.
Olagunju, who was employed by Unique Personnel UK at the time, pleaded guilty to one count of ill-treatment or wilful neglect of a person lacking mental capacity.
At Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London, she was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 50 hours of unpaid work.
Chris Attard, speaking after the sentencing, described the judgment as an insult, saying he believed Olagunju’s actions directly led to his father’s death, even though a post-mortem examination could not conclusively prove it.
He said: “If those cameras had not been there, that person could still be out there treating elderly people like this.
“I was expecting a suspended sentence, but the length and community service aspect is an insult. What kind of a deterrent is that?”
