An 81-year-old woman cannot be left alone after being traumatized by her "cruel" carer, who was captured on camera abusing her. Louise Harris, 42, received a three-month jail sentence after CCTV footage showed her drunkenly screaming abusive language at Elizabeth Anne Shipton.
"I hope you die in your sleep... you horrible cow," Harris was heard saying to Shipton in the footage recorded by the family's surveillance system. The system was originally installed to monitor Shipton's late husband, who had been caring for his wife before his death.
Tracy Faram Shipton, Elizabeth's daughter, described Harris's actions as "horrific" and called the sentence for ill treatment and criminal damage "laughable." The family is unable to appeal the sentence under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, as the attorney general can only refer specific qualifying crimes to the Court of Appeal. According to a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesperson, Harris was initially charged with attempted robbery, a crime that would have qualified for an appeal. However, the CPS dropped this charge, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute for attempted robbery and theft. The CPS has since written to the victim to explain their decision.
"Mum can't be left on her own at all now," Tracy added, highlighting the ongoing impact of the abuse on her mother's well-being.