A CARE worker who assaulted a dying elderly dementia patient has been given a suspended prison sentence by magistrates at Bournemouth.

Josephine Apalisok, from the Philippines, and her colleague Abel Bellary verbally abused and humiliated 89-year-old Derek Maynard at the Kings Park Hospital in Boscombe in October last year. They denied assaulting Mr Maynard by beating, but were found guilty last month after a two-day trial.

Yesterday, Apalisok, 46, of Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months. She was ordered to pay £400 in costs.

The mother-of-three wept as chairman of the bench Michael Joseph told her: “What you did was inexcusable and cruel.”

The court heard that Bellary, 58, of Gloucester Road, Bournemouth, had missed his appointment with the probation service, so no pre-sentence report was available. He was bailed until November 10.

Prosecutor Dr Alieun Joborteh said Mr Maynard – who had lung cancer and heart failure as well as dementia – had been asking to go to bed before the incident happened.

“He was told in a harsh manner that if he wanted to go to bed, he would have to lie on the floor. Apalisok, in a hard tone of voice, ordered him to lie on the floor.”

He said Mr Maynard slipped from the chair and lay there until two other members of staff helped him up again, and that a witness had felt “shocked and frightened”.

Apalisok and Bellary mocked Mr Maynard and Apalisok went to the office, returning with sticky tape, which she placed over her victim’s mouth.

During their trial, Bellary and Apalisok claimed that Mr Maynard was an attention seeker, and that colleagues had made up their accounts of the assault. Mr Maynard died four weeks after the incident, although not as a result of it.

Naomi Reese, defending Apalisok, said her client was of previous good character. She had been at Kings Park Hospital for six years and had been a valued member of staff.

Jane Elson, director of older peoples mental Health services at Dorset HealthCare Trust, said after the case: “We were shocked and upset by the allegations relating to these two individuals. They were suspended as soon as the incident was reported to management and subsequently sacked.

“As part of the trust’s stringent safety procedures, it also initiated immediate contact with the authorities and has maintained a close working relationship with the police since this time.

“I’d like to offer a heartfelt assurance that this incident is an isolated case.”