Four nurses given suspended sentences
November, 1978The treatment meted out to patients by four woman nurses at a mental hospital was described last night by Mr Justice Stephen Brown as "appalling and beyond belief". He passed suspended prison sentences on the nurses, who had been found guilty of ill treating and neglecting their patients at Wales Court Hospital during 1975.
The verdict, at the end of an eight-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court, which is estimated to have cost £250,000, took the jury more than 14 hours spread over two days to reach.
The jury had been told that patients were pushed backwards off stools and one was fed a mixture of washing-up liquid, curry powder and cinnamon until her temperature reached a dangerous level. Another patient was used as a mop while another had her face rubbed in urine.
Paula Staniland, aged 32, of Storth Lane, Kiveton Park, Near Sheffield, a nursing sister, was found guilty on one charge of neglect and given a 15-month suspended sentence for two years.
Sentencing her, the judge said "You knew what was happening but you did not try to stop it."
Kathleen Moran, aged 24, of Charles Street, Thurcroft, Near Rotherham, was found guilty of three charges of ill treatment and given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Ann Flower, aged 42, of Manor Road, Wales, near Sheffield, was found guilty of one charge of ill treatment and given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Krystina Fowkes, aged 23, of Laughton Road, Dinnington, near Rotherham, was found guilty of one charge of ill treatment and given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Mavis Bamford, aged 39, of Coronation Terrace, Austerfield, near Doncaster, a nursing assistant, was acquitted after being found not guilty of two charges of ill treatment.
Barry Saxby, aged 37, of Partridge Place, Aston, near Sheffield, a nursing officer, was also acquitted after being found not guilty on two counts of ill treatment.