Carer caught hitting patient with Down’s Syndrome in the head hours before his death

A carer who was captured on CCTV hitting a vulnerable patient has been jailed for nine months.

Dami Tobi Ayan, 62, was seen ‘man-handling’ Ben King, who lived with Down’s Syndrome, at Cawston Park Hospital in Norwich in July 2020.

Ayan pushed the 32-year-old, who was naked at the time, before dragging him by the arms and striking him across the head with an open hand, police say.

Footage appears to show the carer checking that nobody else is around before hitting Ben again.

Ayan was only caught because Ben died of cardiac arrest later that day, prompting a review of CCCTV from his ward. The assault was not linked to Ben’s death.

According to witnesses, Norfolk Police described regularly hearing Ayan intimidating and abusing Ben, calling him a ‘baby’ and ‘disgusting’.

The 62-year-old was not charged until more than a year after the incident after attempts to track him down failed, prompting a public appeal.

Detective Inspector Sam Pontin said: ‘Ayan was in a position of trust and was meant to care for Ben who was extremely vulnerable and had limited means of protecting himself.

‘This trust was abused and it’s important Ayan faces justice for this.’

Ayan pleaded guilty to mistreating a person lacking mental capacity.

A review is now being carried out into Cawston Park, which has since closed, consulting patients, families and staff over a 10-year period.

Outside court, Ben’s dad Peter told the BBC: ‘I just can’t believe why he would do such a thing to him. I just wish every sadness to that man.

‘It should be a signal to everyone in care. If you know this sort of thing is going on, you need to declare it.’

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