Care home manager’s husband jailed for cruelty to Alzheimer’s patients he tied up and terrified

  • Malcolm Cramp trapped scared 97-year-old in the dark as a punishment
  • He swore at patients and tied one to chair with blanket

By
Emma Reynolds

Last updated at 4:30 PM on 13th February 2012

The husband of a care home manager was today branded ‘cruel and almost sadistic’ by a judge after he physically and mentally abused four dementia patients.

Vicious Malcolm Cramp dragged an 81-year-old woman out of her chair and tied down a 97-year-old woman with a blanket during the year he worked at Brockshill Woodlands home in Oadby, Leicester.

He ‘punished’ the same patient by trapping her in a room with no light on, despite knowing she was afraid of the dark.

Distressing: Malcolm Cramp, left, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for his aggression towards patients at the care home owned by ex-wife Michelle, right

Distressing: Malcolm Cramp, left, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for his aggression towards patients at the care home owned by ex-wife Michelle, right

Cramp, 52, then tucked the terrified Alzheimer’s sufferer into her bed so tightly she screamed out in distress.

He has now been jailed for 12 months for his aggression towards the four women, all in their 80s and 90s.

The abuse took place between February 2009 and January 2010, when he was working at the home run by then-wife Michelle.

He was convicted at Leicester Crown Court on seven counts of ill-treating four people ‘who lacked capacity’.

Foul-mouthed Cramp – who is now divorced – regularly swore at patients, ordering them to be in bed by 8pm before his shift started.

Jailing him last Friday, Judge Simon Hammond blasted him for failing to treat his patients with ‘dignity, respect and understanding’.

He said: ‘It became apparent to members of staff, but not his then-wife, he
was unsuitable for such work.

Strong message: Cramp was jailed for 12 months at Leicester Crown Court, pictured

Strong message: Cramp was jailed for 12 months at Leicester Crown Court, pictured

Ill-treatment: Bullying Cramp was unsuited to care work, the judge said, but his former wife was cleared of all charges

Ill-treatment: Bullying Cramp was unsuited to care work, the judge said, but his former wife was cleared of all charges

‘He’d shout and swear and throw his weight about and do what he wanted.

‘He expected residents to be in bed by the time his shift started at 8pm.

‘All four victims were vulnerable, suffering from dementia, and, in the
twilight of their lives, were entitled to be treated with dignity, respect
and understanding, which the other staff sought to give, but sadly not the
defendant.

‘There will be public abhorrence because of these offences and the sentence must reflect that.’

Of Cramp’s behaviour towards the 97-year-old, Judge Hammond said: ‘The defendant’s conduct on that night was cruel and almost sadistic.’

The court heard Cramp also repeatedly tucked an 85-year-old too tightly into bed and forced an 86-year-old woman back to bed when she got up.

Cramp, from Wigston, Leicester, claimed other staff members mounted a ‘witch hunt’ against him because he was married to the manager of the home.

Steven Newcombe, defending, said: ‘He was wholly unsuited for work of this nature and didn’t have the aptitude or temperament for it.

‘Within a few days, he assumed the care of some very vulnerable and
difficult people.

‘He’s not an evil or uncaring man.’

His ex-wife Mrs Cramp, who ran the home for Leicester-based Prime Life Ltd, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the jury.

She was found not guilty of shouting and swearing at an elderly resident and shoving another into her office.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Defence solictor said, ‘He’s not an evil or uncaring man.’ Really? Well I think he is not only evil and uncaring but also a typical bully and coward who wouldn’t have dared to commit such acts against abled bodied men who could fight back. Pity he won’t get the same treatment in prison.

Thank you Judge Hammond for at least a jail sentence………..although it should have been 10 times longer.

12 months prisonl is not sufficient punishment for the cruelty metted out to these vulnerable people.Again,our judges encourage this sort of behaviour.5 years should have been the term.

HOW MUCH LONGER – day after day we see terrible stories about Care Honmes, yet nothing is done, they have no regulation, can charge what they like in extortionate fees,give little to nothing in return. Most owners are Multi-Millionaires with a expensive life style and various properties etc. I would be happy to sign and assist in getting something done about the places, but nothing happens.

Anyone who works with elderly / vunerable people reading this story please do not allow things like this to happen ,speak out get support from colleagues and evidence, go to the authorties at the top level or report it anonymously…Come on lets stamp this out now. There needs to be mystery staff put into these places randomly. These people are bullies and cowards.

I feel sick.

Scum.

just waiting for him to get a slap on the wrist and a telling off. Its a joke

What a vile piece of dirt! Hope all his inmatse LOVE their own mothers …..

Should have got life..should be no place for sick individuals like that in our society.

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