A care home manager has been spared jail time and was fined £4,000 following a tragic incident where two vulnerable individuals in wheelchairs drowned under her supervision.
Alexander Wood, 43, and Alison Tilsley, 63, lost their lives when the wheelyboat they were on capsized at Roadford Lake in Devon. Another individual, Kate Date, was also severely injured in the accident.
Janice Sowden, the registered manager, admitted to the failure to provide a safe environment that resulted in harm. She had taken six wheelchair-bound patients from Burdon Grange Care Home in Devon to the activity center without properly assessing the risks involved in the outing.
During the trip, the victims were secured in electric wheelchairs without a means of quick release, leading to the tragic outcome. The court heard that the boat started taking in water soon after departure, causing it to capsize and drag Alexander and Alison under the water due to the weight of their wheelchairs.
Sowden, known for her caring and diligent work prior to the incident, was criticized for neglecting proper risk assessments and safety measures. The court highlighted a lapse in standards at the care home leading up to the tragedy.
Judge Stuart Smith emphasized the vulnerability of the care home residents and the necessity of thorough safety assessments before any outings. He criticized Sowden for being careless regarding risks and inadequate consideration for the capabilities of the staff.
Following the incident, Sowden attempted to manipulate evidence of safety measures, presenting a falsified checklist for the boat trip. She was fined a total of £4,090, including a contribution to prosecution costs.
Judge Smith condemned Sowden’s disregard for health and safety protocols, attributing the loss of two lives directly to her negligent attitude. He acknowledged the profound impact on the families of the deceased residents, Alexander Wood and Alison Tilsley.
