EXCLUSIVE Carer who abused dementia-stricken pensioner, 88, days before he died was given 'nursing' job at hospital just months later

Daily Mail​

01-07-2025

A carer caught on camera abusing a frail elderly man days before he died was given a 'nursing' job at a local hospital - and won an 'award' 18 months after the allegations were made.
Bilikesu Olagunju, 42, was employed at Homerton Hospital on a stroke ward with the trust acknowledging it was 'unaware' of criminal investigations against her.
Harrowing footage has this week caused widespread outrage after it showed her 'manhandling' dementia sufferer John Attard, 88, like a 'rag doll' at his home.
The defendant had been a carer for just six days and was on her fist assignment when a CCTV camera captured the full horrific ordeal that the family of the great grandfather say he never recovered from.
Olagunju stripped the great-grandfather naked, threatened to beat him up, and even dragged him across his living room floor – ignoring him as he repeatedly told her she was 'hurting' him.
He was found unresponsive by his son Chris Attard the following day and died in hospital just over a week later.
Last week, Olagunju pleaded guilty to one count of ill-treating or willfully neglecting an individual whilst acting as a care worker.
She was given a six week sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 50 hours unpaid work, at Woolwich Crown Court.
But concerns have now been raised around DBS checks that failed to flag the allegations made against her - that allowed her to continue to come into daily contact with patients on a stroke ward.
It is understood Olagunju had been dismissed by care provider Unique Personnel (Ltd) UK, and Chris said in January 2023 - a month after his father's death - a referral was made to the DBS.
Despite hospitals requiring DBS checks to be carried out on staff working with patients - she still managed to secure employment at the hospital to look after patients on a stroke ward.
The award was given for her role in the Homerton University Hospital Patient Experience Team, a department within the trust focused on enhancing patient experience.
The post on the hospital's X account states: 'Congratulations to our amazing Bumble Bee Award winner for July 2024' and features a photo of Olagunju picking up a certificate.
The hospital says the award is a recognition program that honors 'outstanding nurses and other healthcare professionals.'
The BEE Award 'acknowledges the contributions of other members of the nursing team, such as nursing support staff, who provide excellent and compassionate care,' the trust states.
Chris said he only became aware of the post and employment status of Olagunju after her sentencing last week.
He added: 'You couldn't make this up.
'What makes me more angry is that my father was admitted to Homerton Hospital just before he moved in with me - now I found out she was working there.'
It is understood both the council and the CQC are obligated to inform the DBS of any criminal investigation, which is seen as a 'crucial' part of safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
Chris added: 'The council stated to me on 27 January 2023 that they and the care company sent referrals to the DBS regarding the carer's actions - bearing in mind the allegations did, at that time, not rule out she was responsible for his death.
'The company by law have to.
'Hospitals have to do enhanced DBS checks on applicants if they work on a ward or deal with patients. She worked on Graham Ward, a stroke unit.
'Either no one informed the DBS, or the hospital didn't do checks, or the DBS did not take action.
'I found out a referral doesn't automatically revoke a DBS certificate unless there is evidence of the allegations.
'Either way, this highlights the DBS check system completely failed and is not fit for purpose.'
Last week, Woolwich Crown Court heard full details of the 45-minute ordeal Olagunju had put Mr Attard through.
At one point in the footage she tells him: 'Maybe I will beat you up. I will flog you. I will take you to the GP to get injections. I will call the police on you.'
The distressing images were filmed in the victim's home in Bexley, Kent, on Christmas Eve 2022 on a camera set up by his son Chris.
The following day, Mr Attard was found unresponsive – with blood dripping down the side of his face.
Chris said although a post mortem could not prove it, he felt Olagunju's actions had directly contributed to his father's sudden decline and death.
Under the impression she had been suspended, he had earlier stated: 'If those cameras had not been there, that person could still be out there treating elderly people like this.'
She is also seen in the footage taunting Mr Attard by pouring marmalade into his coffee despite knowing he was diabetic and threatening to 'flog' him - a slang term for 'beating him up.'
When she phoned he care provider, she ignored advice to not touch him on the floor and instead call an ambulance.
Chris said he was horrified by how visibly distressed his dad looked throughout the ordeal.
He added: 'She is physically trying to lift him like a rag doll. His face indicates the discomfort and pain he is feeling.'
Addressing her directly, he told her: 'An autopsy could not link your actions to his death – but I feel personally that your actions, in part, contributed to his sudden death'.
Chris described his father, who had five children, 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, as 'kind-hearted, generous, compassionate, and funny'.
'He was still enjoying what life he had left,' Chris added.
The distraught son said that rewatching the harrowing CCTV footage for the purpose of the case had had a profound impact on him, and his family.
John was Olagunju's first assignment as a care worker in the UK.
During sentencing. Judge Charlotte Welsh told her: 'Frankly it beggars belief that someone would be allocated an elderly man with dementia as their first client.'
It is not known what date she started working at the hospital.
In response, a spokesperson for the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement: 'We take any accusation of abuse of patients extremely seriously.
'Once we were made aware of the matter relating to this member of staff, we followed our internal procedures and took the necessary action. This individual no longer works at our Trust.'
The trust would not confirm when they were made aware of the allegations, or when she started or finished working there.