The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fife carers sentenced for attack on disabled man
Pair punched man in the head while out in public
Two carers who punched a severely disabled man in the head while he was in their care have been sentenced at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Andrew Frame, 27, and William Strange, 55, were handed community payback orders for attacking wheelchair-bound Matthew Millar.
A close relative of Mr Millar told The Courier how the Richmond Fellowship Scotland care workers had made their victim’s “living hell” even worse.
“Matthew is always traumatised. Matthew’s life is basically a living hell,” said the relative, who asked not to be named.
“He’s continually in pain and has a terrible life.
“For them to make it a hell of a lot worse is sickening.”
Mr Millar has Cornelia de Lange syndrome, which has affected his physical and mental development.
He needs two carers always with him 24 hours a day.
After trial, Frame and Strange were found guilty of repeatedly punching Mr Millar on the head in Burntisland High Street on January 11.
Frame, of Dunbar Place in Kirkcaldy, was found guilty of a further charge of punching Mr Millar on the head at the A92 Redhouse Roundabout on February 14, of last year.
He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Strange, of Pittsburgh Road in Halbeath, was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work.
Mr Millar’s relative continued: “Some care staff are excellent.
“But they preyed on a vulnerable young man who is in a wheelchair, can’t speak and can’t even dress himself or feed himself, and they were punching his head and face.”
Sheriff Grant McCulloch told Frame he could have faced jail were it not for the fact he is a first offender.
He also described Mr Millar as a “difficult person to deal with”.
The relative added: “Matthew has a very severe illness and he is difficult. He can’t speak and can hardly hear so he can’t communicate and gets upset because nobody knows what’s wrong. “Staff are trained to deal with that. “No matter how difficult somebody is, they have to be cared for by society and it doesn’t include getting assaulted by your care staff.”
A spokeswoman for the Richmond Fellowship Scotland confirmed that Frame and Strange had lost their jobs as a result of the offences.
“Their actions undermine the good work carried out every day by thousands of caring support staff,” she added.
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “These were very serious incidents and extremely distressing for the individuals affected.
“Everyone in Scotland has a right to experience safe, compassionate, good quality care which meets their needs, rights and choices. We note that on this occasion the perpetrators have been dealt with by the courts.
“We have been kept fully informed of the matter by the service concerned, and were made aware that the individuals involved were suspended while they were being investigated.”