Carer caught on video pulling pensioner by the hair is jailed

Family of 69-year-old Liz Youngs, who suffered with severe dementia, wanted footage shared publicly to highlight case

A carer caught on camera abusing a vulnerable woman with severe dementia has been locked up.

Jenny Dady, 29, was captured force feeding 69-year-old Liz Youngs and pulling her hair and nose in disturbing CCTV footage.

Ms Youngs, who had limited mobility, was on one occasion left sitting in her wheelchair for almost 30 minutes with wet hair and just a towel covering her lap after a shower.

During one visit, Dady brought a dog with her which scratched Ms Young, causing deep cuts to her legs.  

Dady, of Furze Road, Norwich, was finally caught in the act after Ms Youngs’ daughter Corrina Cunningham found injuries on her mother including bruising and blisters during the summer of 2019.

On one occasion Ms Youngs was left sitting in her wheelchair for almost 30 minutes with wet hair and just a towel covering her lap after a shower, police said (Norfolk Police)

She began recording footage on a CCTV camera already set up in Ms Youngs’ room and openly visible to anyone entering.

Norwich Crown Court heard that in November 2019, Ms Youngs’ family viewed the CCTV footage and it became apparent that Dady had been mistreating her, at which point police became involved.

The abuse took place on a number of occasions and also included Dady pushing her knuckles into Ms Youngs’ face, being verbally abusive and constantly using her mobile phone while she was meant to be caring for the victim, police said.

Dady was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on 18 January and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122 after pleading guilty to ill-treatment or neglect of a person who lacks capacity.

Norfolk Police, who released footage of the incidents after the sentencing, said Ms Youngs’ family wanted the video shared publicly to promote the case.

Ms Youngs’ daughter, who had been living with her in Barford, said the recording made her feel “physically sick”.

Carer Jenny Dady was filmed constantly using her mobile phone while she was meant to be caring for dementia sufferer Liz Youngs (Norfolk Police)

She said: “Sadly, mum passed away during the investigation, which makes it so much harder to come to terms with, knowing that she was poorly treated in the last year of her life.

“I was mortified when I found out this had been happening. I felt guilty for not being able to protect her when she needed it and that this had happened under our own roof.  

“We trusted Jenny and thought she genuinely cared for mum but she betrayed this trust in the worst possible way.”

She added: “I found it really difficult to watch the footage, it made me feel physically sick. I couldn’t bear the thought of Jenny being in a position to care for other people’s loved ones and abuse them in the way she did my mum.  

“I’m glad we acted on our concerns and got the camera and I would encourage anyone in a similar position to do the same.”

Detective Constable Gemma Weeks, from Norfolk Constabulary’s Adult Abuse Investigation Unit, who led the investigation, said: “Dady was in a position of trust and left to care for an extremely vulnerable woman who had no means of protecting herself or raising the alarm to relatives.  

“She abused this trust, treating Liz with little care; handling her roughly by pushing and pulling her.

“Many incidents were captured on CCTV which makes for very unpleasant viewing. No one would want their loved ones treated in this way, particularly those who are vulnerable and have limited capacity, which is why it’s important we seek justice in these cases for the victims and their families.”