Home Workers Put Body Of Man Who Died Off Bed Back To His Bed To Appear He Died In His Sleep

Two care workers who attempted to cover up the death of an elderly man have escaped jail.

Care home manager Lynda Johnson, 64, and her deputy Deborah Scrivens, 44, were among five employees held after Ronald Dean was found naked in a prayer position on his hand on knees beside an open window.

The 86-year-old retired milkman was due to walk his daughter down the aisle on the day he died.

At Bolton Crown Court Johnson and Scrivens admitted obstructing a coroner after placing Mr Dean's body back in his bed to make it appear he had died in his sleep - because staff had failed to check on him at regular intervals.

Prosecutor Nick Fryman QC said Mr Dean was admitted to the 80-resident home in Bolton in August 2015 and died six months later, on January 9, 2016.

On the night he died his window had been left open and the temperature plummeted to 5C.

The court heard an inexperienced worker assigned to Mr Dean failed to look in on him due to staff shortages.

At 6.30am Mr Dean was found dead on the floor amid fears proper checks had not been carried out.

With staff fearing a police investigation, Johnson ordered Scrivens and her colleagues to 'straighten' Mr Dean out and put him back in his bed and make it appear as if he died peacefully in his sleep.

Scrivens then helped move the body despite another colleague saying there was something 'seriously wrong' with what she was doing.

Another carer asked to assist in lifting Mr Dean 'point blank refused because she believed this was a cover up over staff shortages' added the QC.

Later a doctor called to the home was told Mr Dean had died in his sleep and was alone in his bed when staff found him while carrying out their rounds.

That day Scrivens continued with the lie and even suggested to his daughter that her father's body be dressed up in his suit.

The truth emerged after a care assistant who witnessed the events at the Lever Edge Care Home in Bolton, Greater Manchester told a relative.

Johnson was given a 12 month community order and must perform 120 hours unpaid work and pay £2,000 costs.

Scrivens was given a six month community order and was ordered to wear an electronic tag.

Three other staff members were cleared of perverting justice at an earlier hearing.