HUMILIATION OF BISHOP STRICKEN BY DEMENTIA

A FORMER bishop was ‘humiliated’ in his final weeks by a carer who forced him to have cold showers and slapped his bottom.

The Rt Rev John Satterthwaite, pictured, was 88 and suffering from dementia when Kate Rogowski subjected him to ‘unnecessary degradation’ at The Lodge nursing home at the Buckshaw Retirement Village in Chorley, Lancashire.

Mr Satterthwaite, the former bishop of Gibraltar, was said to be respected around the globe for his significant roles within the Anglican Church.

It is understood a concerned member of staff raised the alarm when they saw Rogowski, 25, taking advantage of the bishop’s vulnerability. In February 2015, Rogowski was found guilty of assault after a trial and jailed for eight weeks.

But the clergyman did not live to see justice done as he died in May 2014 – a month after the incident came to light. The Lodge is currently failing, according to the CQC’s most recent report.

At the time of Rogowski’s sentence, the Diocese of Carlisle and the Diocese of Blackburn issued a joint statement which said: ‘We are really shocked to discover this sad end to the very distinguished life of Bishop John.

‘He was a tremendous character with a huge fund of interesting stories about his time as Bishop of Europe.’

Hica Group, which manages The Lodge, said: ‘This was an unacceptable and distressing incident that occurred more than three years ago. At Hica, we operate a zero-tolerance approach to any forms of abuse or poor care and when this incident arose we took prompt and immediate action. Nothing similar has ever been reported at The Lodge.’