Bupa carer's assault on patient caught on camera.

A Bupa carer was caught on a secret camera banging a 77-year-old dementia patient's head against a chair.

Relatives of the patient, Betty Boylan, a retired nurse, hid the device inside a gutted television after they found she had unexplained bruising when they visited her at Perry Locks Care Home in Birmingham, which costs £1,000 a month and is run by the local authority.

Within days of planting the camera, they recorded disturbing footage of carer, Bina Begum, 49, lifting the great-grandmother by her head and throwing her back into her chair.

The force of Begum's attack was so hard Mrs Boylan's chair was seen to rock backwards before her head slumped to the side and her relatives took the recording to the police.

Begum, of Birmingham, was arrested and admitting ill-treating and neglecting Mrs Boylan. Magistrates gave her a 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work and fined her £270.

Speaking after Begum was sentenced, Betty Boylan’s family said she should have been jailed.

Son-in-law Nigel Jarvis, 56, said: 'We brought up the bruises and managers dismissed us and gave no explanation, so I bought the camera and hid it in the TV. Within four days we had the footage of Begum slamming Betty’s head into the chair.

“The sentence was a disgrace. She should have gone to prison. That would have sent a message to other carers who treat people like this. I am disgusted by what she did but I also feel sorry for her because she has to live with it for the rest of her life.' 

Mrs Boylan, a grandmother-of-ten who used to work as an auxiliary nurse, moved into the Bupa home in 2015 for respite care but had to stay there when her husband Timmy, 74, died.

Bupa Care Services quality director, Vivienne Birch, said: 'We were shocked and saddened by the footage. We're deeply sorry this happened and for the distress it has caused Mrs Boylan's family.

“We're proud of the care our staff provide and do not tolerate behaviour like this at any of our homes.” 

Defending, Nazia Jan, said Begum was 'very, very remorseful' and added: “This act was completely out of character, blemished her good character and caused her unquantifiable distress.”