AN angry daughter has spoken of how she felt sick to her stomach when told her dementia sufferer mum had been the target for humiliating abuse at a care home.

Senior Care Nurse David Hill, 48, was sentenced to six months for subjecting 85-year-old Dorothy Tunstall, who died in April, to repeated ill treatment over a period of three months at the Victoria Nursing Home in Rainford.

Mrs Tunstall was force fed, had water squirted at her through a syringe, had food flicked at her and was the target of a barrage of foul and abusive language.

Hill would also suspend her in a hoist, used to lift the infirm, and spun her around for his own amusement.

His former colleague Kathleen Roberts, 57, was also charged with the ill treatment or neglect of a person that lacks capacity under the Mental Health Act.

She was said to have played a lesser role, laughing and encouraging him.

Roberts was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for 18 months.

Mrs Tunstall was married for 58 years to husband Albert, 88, and lived in Nutgrove all her married life.

Mrs Tunstall’s only child Wendy spoke to the Star about the shock and devastation brought by the callous pair.

The 48-year-old said: “It kicked off in March 2008, when I had a phone call from the manager of the home. She told me there had been a report of abuse from two members of staff and it had been reported to the authorities. But she couldn’t tell me the details, except to say it wasn’t sexual abuse.

“For months we didn’t know what had happened. It was only on the day they were sentenced (Wednesday, May 26), that I heard the details. It made me sick to my stomach. Everyone loved my mum. She was a happy, caring, loving person.

“I’ve no resentment towards the care home. He has brought shame on them and they don’t deserve it. The staff have been heartbroken and have been like angels to us. I also want to thank the police, especially Gill and Kirsty, who were a great help.

Wendy, who works as a supervisor at Rainford High was satisfied with Hill’s sentence, adding: “I know he won’t serve six months, but at least something has been done. He has to live with his conscience now.

“At the time, mum had no short term memory, but understood what was going on around her. And she would have known what was being done to her and would have tried to fight back. But she would have forgotten five minutes later.”

Referring to Kathleen Roberts, who herself is recovering from cancer, Wendy said: “I can’t comprehend how she could laugh at what he was doing. How could she think it was right and not stop him. But I could see it has deeply affected her. She is paying her own sentence.

“None of us know what our future holds, but I’m a believer in what goes around, comes around. I only hope for their sakes they never find themselves in a situation where they have to be cared for by people with the same morals they have.”