Carer jailed for hitting dementia patient, 79

Valerie Stone said she was protecting herself

The city's sheriff court heard Valerie Stone, 49, also on a separate occasion shouted aggressively at Roy Brown.

Yesterday, Sheriff Deidre MacNeill QC said: "I have given anxious consideration to this case. You are a first offender and only in exceptional circumstances can a prison sentence be considered.

"I cannot get away from how serious this is. A prison sentence is appropriate."

She added the sentence had been reduced from six months to reflect Stone's guilty plea.

At an earlier hearing, fiscal depute Aidan Higgins told the court Stone, who is morbidly obese and has mobility problems, had "particular difficulties" with Mr Brown as well as struggling generally in her job at BUPA-run Braid Hills Nursing Centre.

Mr Higgins said Stone had hit Mr Brown as she and a colleague helped him to get up out of bed one morning.

He said: "As they were trying to get him to his feet he seemed to fall forwards and seemed to lose control of himself and lose his balance.

"It would appear that the accused thought that he was lunging at her and it appears she thought she would get in first and she struck out and hit him forcefully on the head.

"The colleague who was with her shouted in shock and said 'what on earth are you doing?' and 'that is completely out of order'. The accused replied 'he was going to hit me first'."

The fiscal depute added that carers were expected to be able to cope with dementia patients, who could be unpredictable.

Mr Higgins also described how on another occasion Stone had been helping Mr Brown in his room when she became very angry.

"This was observed by a colleague and she seemed to lose control and started screaming and shouting at him," added Mr Higgins.

Mr Higgins said that management were not told about the offending behaviour until January of this year. He added as soon as managers were informed, Stone was suspended and police informed.

Stone, of Glendinning Crescent, Edinburgh, admitted ill-treating or neglecting Mr Brown under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2003.

The offence happened on two occasions between July 1 and November 30, 2009, at the Liberton Drive home.

Stone originally faced 12 allegations, but most were previously deserted by the Crown.

The court heard Stone had worked for BUPA for six years and at Braid Hills for five but had no intention of returning.

Kenny Valentine, BUPA director for Scotland, said: "Her actions have let down our residents, their families and her caring colleagues and we all deplore her conduct."