Dimensions responds to community sentence for care home abusers
Anyone found tying a dog’s legs together to watch it suffer could in future expect a jail sentence of up to 5 years. And yet two professional carers convicted of using a cable to tie up a woman with learning disabilities, filming and laughing as she falls down and crawls across the floor, receive a community service order.
The message from our courts is clear. Take good care of your pet. Abuse vulnerable people to your heart’s content.
The police and Crown Prosecution Service appear to have done a good job here. They successfully brought the conviction, and used powers under s146 of the Criminal Justice Act to argue that the abuse was motivated by hostility towards the individual’s disability. But the sentence handed down by the judge is grossly inadequate.
Mark Brookes – Campaigns Advisor at Dimensions and expert by experience, said: “Dimensions’ #ImWithSam campaign seeks to tackle the issue of hate crime against people with learning disabilities.
“These two sadistic individuals are laughing all the way to the park to sweep up their leaves. They’ve had their kicks, and got away with it. Meanwhile their victim will be scarred for life. It’s yet another deterrent to other people with learning disabilities to come forward and report the abuse we receive on a daily basis. It’s just not right.”
Contact our press office
For more information, interviews, and case studies contact Duncan Bell, Head of Marketing and External Comminications at Dimensions, on (e) duncan.bell@dimensions-uk.org (t) 0300 303 9062.
Dimensions #ImWithSam campaign is working with key organisations and influencers to help tackle hate crime at its roots and improve the criminal justice system. 73% of people with a learning disability or autism has experienced hate crime, including abuse, rape and extortion.
Dimensions provides evidence-based, outcomes-focused support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. We help people be actively involved in their communities.
We are one of the largest not-for-profit support providers in the UK. We currently support around 3,500 people and their families throughout England and Wales with help from our 7,000 members of staff.
We have been providing support packages for families for 40 years. We offer a range of support services to adults of all ages, including those with complex needs or challenging behaviour.
We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation, not here for commercial gain. This means we’re able to invest all our efforts and resources into the important things – which is helping the people we support lead happy and fulfilled lives.