Police are investigating after a dementia patient's diamond and gold wedding rings worth £9,000 went missing from a Kent care home and were replaced with plastic copies.
Jacqueline Stockbridge, 69, was taken to Holywell Park Care Home in Sevenoaks, Kent, after suffering a stroke last month. She has been in the care system for 15 years and has always worn her £7,500 opal and gold engagement ring, encrusted with 14 diamonds, and her £1,500 baguette wedding band with rectangular diamonds.
Daughter Discovers Plastic Ring
Her daughter Jocelyn, 37, was shocked to see a plastic ring on her mother's finger when she visited on September 21. Jocelyn, who works for a university, said: "I thought 'it's been stolen', she wouldn't take it off, she's never taken it off."
She added: "My first thought was to panic, but I was actually there to see my mum and see her social worker to discuss her health, so I was due in a meeting. I was distressed and panicked, wanting to prioritise my mum's wellbeing but also wanting to figure out what happened to her rings."
Care Home Response
Jocelyn raised the missing rings with care home staff, who she claims were "dismissive" and didn't do much to help. Her mother did not realise the rings were gone until Jocelyn told her.
Jocelyn said: "When I said to my mum she said 'oh my God, it's not there'. When I pointed it out to her, she was really upset, but 10 minutes later she'll have forgotten. Then you point it out to her again, and she's upset again."
She added: "In the moment, she'll have known what was happening if someone took it off her, but then she will have forgotten, especially if they've replaced it with something, she's going to be thinking about it less."
Police Investigation
Jocelyn reported the incident to police, and officers have taken the fake ring for forensic testing. The care home has told her they will review their procedures.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "Kent Police is investigating the alleged theft of two rings from the resident of a care home in Hodsoll Street, New Ash Green, between Tuesday 1 September and Tuesday 29 September. Officers have spoken to a relative of the victim and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information that may assist is urged to call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/158636/26."
Daily Express has contacted Holywell Park Care Home for comment.
