Warrington carer jailed for treatment of extremely vulnerable patient

Jake Miller also told the patient, who struggles to communicate verbally, that he was a ‘waste of space’ and that he ‘wished he was dead’.

The 27-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to ill treatment or neglect of a person who lacks capacity.

Prosecuting, Kenneth Grant said that the incident happened at St Mary’s Hospital in Orford.

The hospital provides care and support for men over the age of 18 who require a period of specialised rehabilitation - including the assessment, treatment, and stabilisation of individuals suffering from significant mental illness.

Mr Grant said at the time of the incident on January 9, 2022, Miller, of Neville Avenue, Orford, was employed as a recovery worker at St Mary’s Hospital and was caring for the victim who had been assessed as ‘extremely vulnerable’.

He read a statement to the court from one of Miller’s colleagues who witnessed his awful behaviour.

She said how the victim was in the hospital’s TV room along with Miller and another worker who were both allocated to observe him.

The court heard how the victim sat up in his chair but Miller pushed him back down with one hand while his other hand pushed his head back.

“He said something like sit down or stay there,” the statement said.

“This isn’t the right way to speak to a patient.”

Miller’s colleague said how she then asked the victim if he wanted to go back to his room, to which he replied ‘yes’.

“He stood up and we try to be hands off with him, but Jake grabbed him by the right arm and dragged him down the corridor towards the bedroom,” the statement said.

When they reached the bedroom door, the patient grabbed one of Miller’s colleagues by the sleeve. She told Miller, but he didn’t reply.

The statement continued: “He grabbed the patient with both hands and threw him onto the bed.”

Mr Grant told the court how Miller said to the patient: “You are a waste of space, I hate him, I wish you were dead.”

Miller’s colleague told him to calm down, to which he responded: “I hate him, I hate him.”

It was heard how Miller then held up his fist to the patient in a ‘threatening manner’, causing the patient to flinch away.

Miller’s colleague went to seek help while another member of staff covered her.

She said to a fellow nurse: “I am not happy and Jake is out of control, you need to get someone in that room.”

Miller is of previous good character, with no convictions.

Defending, Adam White said how Miller said that the patient had to be dealt with in a hands-on way but he accepts that he went ‘over the top on this occasion’.

“He lost his cool when dealing with a patient who has complex needs,” said Mr White.

“We are dealing with someone who responded very poorly to a challenging situation.

“He is a youngish man of previous good character and he has expressed feelings of regret and remorse.”

Mr White added how Miller didn’t just find himself in the caring profession, he said he sought the job out and found it ‘very rewarding’.

Concluding, Judge Mark Ainsworth said: “The fact he did this with a co-worker present shows just how much he was out of control.

“It is clear that the patient, despite his difficulties in expressing himself, was upset by the way that you had acted towards him.”

Judge Ainsworth added how officers from the Probation Service said that Miller’s behaviour toward the victim would have left him ‘frightened, bullied, and dehumanised.

“It is clear to me that you did momentarily lose control,” Judge Ainsworth added.

“You lost all professionalism.”

Miller was handed an eight-month prison sentence.

Cheshire Police were unable to share a mugshot for this defendant.