Carer ‘with girlfriend not patients’
A CARER who was responsible for looking after vulnerable adults neglected them by spending time at his girlfriend’s house instead.
Fansu Kone, 42, was a support worker at Cardiff council for a number of years where he was praised for his ability to work with vulnerable adults. His duties included taking those he cared for to health-related activities and sensory therapy sessions, and assisting them with shopping.
When his employer became suspicious after a number of complaints were made, trackers were fitted to a work car driven by Kone.
It was discovered there were a number of occasions when he didn’t take three people he cared for to their appointments but he was found to be spending time at his girlfriend’s house instead. This took place between September and October 2017.
No-one was harmed as a result of Kone’s actions.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard Kone was dismissed and reported to police for wilfully neglecting those he cared for. He later pleaded guilty to three counts of a care worker wilfully neglecting an individual.
While he admitted the charges, the father-of-one disputed a number of points regarding what he was doing while he was meant to be taking service users to his appointment, but this was dismissed by Judge Michael Fitton QC at a Newton hearing.
Defence barrister Francesca Whebell said her client was aware the consequences of his actions could have been worse.
She said: “There has been an element of him burying his head in the sand and not standing up to what he’s done but he’s deeply concerned about the consequences.
“He never deliberately set out to do anything bad towards the people he cared for and he is sorry for what he has done and to the people who have been affected.
“It’s fortunate that nothing happened to the service users and he’s grateful for that because he cares deeply for the people he cared for.”
Sentencing, Judge Fitton said he would not jail Kone immediately due to his previous good character.
He said: “There is no aspect of this case that leads me to think that what you did was intended to cause harm or was in any way an act of cruelty. You characterise it as not reporting the changes to you looking after the service users.
“I see it that during the course of your work you had the care of service users suffering a substantial degree of physical impairment and other dependents which meant they were dependent on you.
“You’re a complicated man about whom a great many people have said very good things. The nature of the work you undertook is the type of work many people would shy away from and you have shown ability but because of the way you did it with a particular style you have let down service users and yourself.”
He added: “You have a number of good qualities but there’s something in you, a streak of arrogance or idleness that lets you down. No harm came to the service users but they suffered and their families suffered after discovering you weren’t looking after them as they or your employers expected or deserved.”
Kone of Dylan Place, Roath, Cardiff, was sentenced to nine months imprisonments suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work and a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, as well as £300 costs.
Kelly Huggins of the CPS said: “Fansu Kone was employed to care for these people, who relied on him to help them with day to day life. He showed no regard for their needs by deliberately avoiding his duties, taking away their quality of life in doing so. His acts were nothing other than selfish. Those he cared for were not in a position to challenge him, and he took advantage of the situation.”
A Cardiff council spokesman said: “All our staff who work with vulnerable people are DBS checked, and all appropriate checks were carried out in this case. However, as soon concerns were raised, swift action was taken.”