MS victim beaten to death by yob ‘carer’ paid by taxpayer
‘The system has let him down’
A CARER who beat a multi- ple sclerosis sufferer to death was given taxpayer cash to look after him despite a history of yobbish behaviour.
Christopher McAllister, 30, had twice been arrested by police for drunkenness and unlawful use of a baseball bat.
Yet without any apparent checks on his background, he was awarded a £62 weekly carer’s allowance to look after neighbour Paul Roddy, 55. He moved the former engineer into his flat and spent the day using cannabis and legal highs, playing computer games and feeding him takeaways and microwave ready meals, a court heard.
Just eight months later, Mr Roddy was found dead in bed at McAl- lister’s apartment in Gorton, Manchester, with 80 different injuries including a stamp mark on his head and two black eyes. He was said to be undernourished and weighing just seven-and-a-half stone.
It emerged that in the run-up to Mr Roddy’s death, McAllister had been seen kicking and hitting the victim after he had soiled himself.
Yesterday the former call centre worker was facing jail after being convicted of manslaughter.
Afterwards the victim’s family demanded to know how McAllister could have been officially recognised as his carer despite his past.
Mr Roddy’s sister Julie Wainwright, 59, said: ‘I just don’t understand how this man didn’t have to be checked before becoming a carer. ‘He didn’t have any training and yet no one checked up on him. We have lost Paul because the system seems to have let him down and failed to protect him.’
Father of four Mr Roddy was diagnosed with MS aged 39 and met McAllister after moving next door.
But unknown to the victim’s fam- ily the younger man became his carer in 2015. Already claiming employment support allowance of £500 a month, McAllister took the extra benefits as he said he was caring for his friend for at least 35 hours a week.
He told his trial he hadn’t been officially employed as a carer or given any training but claimed benefits after a form was filled in at Mr Roddy’s request.
Manchester Crown Court heard McAllister would then spend his days playing computer games and fed Mr Roddy pizza, chips and burger takeaways along with microwave meals as he was unable to cook.
Mr Roddy was found dead in bed on December 31, 2015. McAllister, who has dyslexia and is unable to read or write, claimed scratches on his hands were caused by his dog.
He also suggested Mr Roddy had sustained injuries when he fell over repeatedly in the flat. When asked about care work he replied: ‘I don’t know anything about being a carer. I just put it on the form that Paul filled out and that was it.’ He will be sentenced next month.