Exposed: couple jailed for elder abuse
A vulnerable elderly woman found covered in sores, excrement and dirt, was ‘‘entirely at the mercy’’ of the people jailed for neglecting her.
On Friday, Terrence Peter Heppell, 65, and Erica Beth Heppell, 66, both from Tikorangi, near Waitara, were sent to prison for two years and nine months.
They previously pleaded guilty to the ill-treatment of Beatrice Emily Heppell, who is now 93 and suffers from advanced dementia.
The victim is the mother of Terrence Heppell and the motherin-law of Erica Heppell and was moved into a rest home after the abuse came to light two years ago.
Judge Chris Sygrove was scathing of the couple’s conduct and said they showed no insight into how their lack of care had contributed to the ‘‘appalling’’ condition medical staff found Beatrice Heppell in.
‘‘She was entirely unable to protect herself or even call for help.
‘‘She was entirely at your mercy,’’ he said.
In October 2014, Beatrice Heppell was found by ambulance staff lying in bed, the mattress and bedding soiled with her excrement. She was in an extremely unkempt physical state with dried mucus around her eyes, mould growing under her breasts and dirty skin and clothing.
One of the ambulance staff who attended the callout retched due to the horrendous smell in the bedroom. On admission to hospital, staff catalogued a series of sores and wounds, including the most serious, which was located near the woman’s sacrum and measured 11 centimetre by 8cm and was 4cm deep. The woman had also suffered a dislocated right shoulder. Medical staff believed the wounds were 3-4 weeks old.
In his statement to the court, Ross Heppell, who is another son of the victim, said he had been ‘‘reduced to dumbfounded silence’’ when he first saw his mother after the abuse was uncovered.
‘‘Mum should have been able to grow old gracefully and with dignity on her own terms and in her own house and that has been denied her,’’ he said.
Ross Heppell, who lives in Napier, later added he was oblivious to what was happening and had completely trusted his brother and sister-in-law with the care of his mother.
Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke sought a jail term of three years for the ‘‘terrible neglect’’.
She said the offending was premeditated and represented a gross breach of trust, as the victim was totally dependent on the couple to ensure her needs were met.
Defence lawyer Josie Mooney accepted the pair’s care of the victim was woefully inadequate but said there had been no intent on their part to cause any harm.
She said the couple had continued to visit the victim five times a week since she had been in the rest home and deserved credit for their guilty pleas and show of remorse.
Outside of court, Detective Mike Thorne said he was happy with the outcome and that jail time for this type of offending sent a strong message that ignorance was no excuse.
‘‘Vulnerable people should have faith and confidence they are going to be looked after,’’ he said.
The couple previously had interim name suppression but did not seek a permanent order.
- Fairfax NZ