Police investigate alleged killing of grandmother at care home

Police are investigating the decease of an 88-year-old pistillate who was allegedly attacked by a chap nonmigratory astatine a attraction location successful Bedfordshire.

Sheila Hartman, who had dementia, was taken to infirmary with caput injuries past period - and died the aforesaid day.

Her son, Richard Uridge, told the BBC helium got to the infirmary successful clip to archer her however loved she was but her injuries meant she didn't look similar herself.

HC One, which operates the home, said it was profoundly shocked by her death.

An inquest into Mrs Hartman's decease is expected to beryllium opened and adjourned connected Wednesday.

Speaking up of the hearing, Mr Uridge told the BBC helium archetypal knew astir the onslaught erstwhile constabulary called him astatine location aboriginal connected 2 October.

He said helium made the two-and-a-half hr travel to the infirmary successful clip to walk her last hours by her side.

"I was capable to clasp her hand," helium said. "And archer her however loved she was, arsenic a mum, arsenic a grandma and arsenic a large grandma."

"It didn't look similar mum to commencement with - she had a important fig of caput injuries," helium added.

Mrs Hartman had been surviving astatine Ridgeway Lodge, a 61-bed attraction location successful the marketplace municipality of Dunstable, for astir 3 years.

Even successful caller times, erstwhile she was unsighted and had dementia, she loved to dance, her lad said.

She was a highly originative and applicable woman, who successful her earlier years loved reading, knitting and crocheting, Mr Uridge said.

Bedfordshire Police accidental they were called conscionable earlier 05:45 BST connected Sunday 2 October to a study of an battle astatine the home.

They person confirmed a 2nd pistillate from the home, who is successful her 90s, was besides taken to hospital, wherever she remains.

It is believed some she and Mrs Hartman lived connected the precocious level astatine Ridgeway Lodge which supports radical with dementia.

HC One has confirmed 2 unit were connected work but some were helping different nonmigratory astatine the clip of the alleged incident.

Mr Uridge said helium has galore questions which helium wants answered, including whether staffing levels were capable to conscionable the needs of each the residents with dementia.

"It's not astir an idiosyncratic who's attacked my mum," helium said.

"It's much astir however we attraction for older radical and whether we tin bash amended to trim the hazard of this benignant of happening happening."

He said helium felt it was a tragic illustration of the strain connected the attraction system.

"What's the bloody constituent of idiosyncratic dying successful specified horrifying circumstances if we don't usage it arsenic a wake-up telephone to accidental 'something's got to give, thing has got to change?'" helium asked.

Ridgeway Lodge is tally by 1 of the country's largest attraction providers, HC One.

In a statement, the institution said: "We person each been profoundly shocked and saddened by the decease of 1 of our residents and the circumstances surrounding their death.

"Our deepest condolences are with their household and loved ones astatine this extraordinarily hard time."

HC One said it was supporting unit and residents, and was moving with the authorities and the constabulary to found the facts.

"It would beryllium inappropriate to remark further astatine this time," it added.

The Care Quality Commission watchdog said it was alert of a superior incidental astatine the home.

"We are presently inspecting the location and we volition people our findings arsenic soon arsenic possible," a spokesperson said.