Northern Ireland

Former Belfast care home worker who sexually assaulted both elderly residents and a young family member jailed for minimum of 12 years

Laganside Court in Belfast
Laganside Court in Belfast Laganside Court in Belfast

A 51-year old former Belfast care home worker who sexually assaulted both elderly residents at work and a young family member at home, has been jailed for a minimum of 12 years.

As he imposed the sentence Judge Stephen Fowler QC said the Polish national - who is HIV positive - "took advantage of the most vulnerable in our society - the old and sick."

He also secretly recorded fellow female colleagues in the staff rooms of two care homes where he worked for his sexual gratification, as well as recording two female relatives.

Due to the nature of his offending, he cannot be named to protect the identity of his multiple victims.

Belfast Crown Court heard the defendant - a former member of the Polish Army and French Foreign Legion - videoed himself sexually abusing his partner's granddaughter when the child was aged between three and six.

It was when this offending emerged in February 2019 that police located multiple videos on his phone that he had taken of the child.

When his phone and other devices were further examined, more videos which depicted him sexually assaulting vulnerable elderly residents at care homes where he worked were found.

He admitted 63 separate offences committed against his step-granddaughter from June 2015 to February 2019.

He also admitted six counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual assault against elderly female residents between June and October 2015.

In addition, he admitted 12 separate counts of voyeurism which relate to incidents where he secretly recorded care home colleagues at work, and two female relatives, for his sexual gratification.

Judge Fowler said all the offending amounted to breaches of trust and "encompassed all ages of female victims - from three years to over 90 years."

The judge deemed the defendant as dangerous and imposed an extended custodial sentence of 24 years jail followed by an additional period of five years on licence. The defendant may not be automatically released on licence after serving half his sentence.