A carer at a mental health facility in Pembrokeshire has been handed a suspended prison sentence after a court found she subjected a vulnerable patient to "rough, unfeeling, callous treatment." Rayanne Mason, 61, of Honeyborough Green, Neyland, was convicted at Swansea Crown Court of one count of ill-treating or wilfully neglecting a person without capacity.
Incident at Bro Cerwyn Centre
The incident occurred at the Bro Cerwyn Centre in Haverfordwest in May last year, when Mason took hold of a male patient. The court heard that Mason denied any wrongdoing, claiming the witnesses were on friendly terms with each other, were "ageist" against her, and did not like her. She alleged the allegation had been fabricated.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told Mason that her treatment of the patient had brought her nursing career to an "ignominious end." He accepted that the incident involved a loss of temper but said it was a shame she did not have the courage to admit what she had done, noting she had shown "not a scintilla of remorse."
Defence Arguments
Harry Dickens, representing Mason, said that given the jury's verdict and his client's maintenance of her innocence, he could not advance any remorse. He invited the judge to find that what happened was a "restraint that went further than it should have done" and was a result of the defendant's "anger or frustration" rather than malicious intent. Dickens noted that Mason was awaiting the results of a disciplinary process from the Nursing and Midwifery Council and fully expected to lose her professional status, which would be a punishment in itself.
Sentencing
The judge acknowledged there were no specific sentencing guidelines for the offence but considered guidelines for assault by beating. Mason was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation course. Judge Thomas said he suspected the loss of employment, career, and professional recognition would be the real punishment, but told Mason she had only herself to blame.
