News from around the county Carers left woman in hot car for hours
Carers who left a severely autistic person locked in a car alone while they went on a two-and-ahalf hour shopping spree have avoided jail.
Sylvia Ezeorji, 47, and Veronica Howe, 52, were in charge of the woman in her 50s, who does not speak.
She was found – wearing a big coat and sweating – by police in Chatham High Street on a hot day in July after members of the public dialed 999.
Beside her were a packet of Wotsits and a bottle of water but she was not capable of opening either.
Howe, of Castle Road, Chatham, and Ezeorji, of Porters Avenue, Dagenham, pleaded guilty to neglect at Medway magistrates in September.
James Nichols, prosecuting, said one of the officers looked in the car to see a woman in the back with a purple coat on and no shoes.
He said: “Three attempts to open the car were made before the window was smashed and when paramedics arrived and gave her water, she drank at speed.”
The court was told the pair had admitted their actions fell below what is required of them and said they did go to check on her in the car, but left her there again and just forgot about the time.
Chairman of the bench Veenod Rama said: “There is no excuse, it was callous and selfish behaviour to a very vulnerable person.”
Magistrates decided their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court.
Ezeorji was given an eightmonth sentence and Howe was given a six-month sentence, both suspended for two years, plus 50 hours of unpaid work each.