STV
25 June 2012
A carer raped a 65-year-old dementia patient at the nursing home where he worked.
Stephen Murray also confessed to sexually abusing two other Alzheimer's sufferers, aged 84 and 74, at the South Lanarkshire facility.
The 44-year-old was caught by a colleague with his trousers at his ankles and a resident naked from the waist down at the Ashgill home.
On Monday the High Court in Glasgow heard that Murray stabbed himself with a pair of scissors while waiting for police to arrest him when fellow workers caught him abusing the pensioner.
Advocate depute Alison Di Rollo said: "She looked in at two or three of the residents' rooms to see if he was there. When she got to the 65-year-old woman's room the light was off, but the en-suite bathroom light was on and the door was ajar.
"She saw the accused standing at the bottom of the bed. His trousers and pants were at his ankles. The woman was lying on the bed naked from the waist down."
The court heard that when Murray was confronted by his shocked colleague he appeared agitated and embarrassed and said: "My trousers have fell down, my zip's burst."
The care home worker then phoned her manager and the police were contacted.
When he was interviewed at Hamilton Police Station, Murray admitted raping the woman added: "It was stupid. It was stupid, disgusting, because I know it's wrong. I just lost the plot. It was wrong, it was stupid, I hurt her."
Murray, from Larkhall, also admitted sexually abusing two other residents over a 16-month period between December 2010 and April 2012.
Judge Lord Turnbull placed the carer on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence on him until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
After the court hearing, Detective Inspector David Tassie said: "Stephen Murray has today pled guilty to a sickening catalogue of crimes which affected one of the most vulnerable sections of our community - the elderly and infirm.
"As soon as the first incident was brought to the attention of police an investigation was launched and a major incident room and specialist inquiry team established. This team of detectives led by myself included specially trained sexual offences liaison officers. The investigation soon established that the initial incident was not an isolated case within the home.
"We are grateful for the co-operation of the families in what was a very harrowing time for them and hope that this admission of guilt will assist them in coming to terms with the effects of these despicable crimes. I would like to reassure the public that we are satisfied that we have captured and acted on all the available evidence and would like to also reassure that Strathclyde Police remain committed to keeping the public safe, no matter where they are in our community."
Procurator fiscal for the West of Scotland, John Dunn, added: "Stephen Murray has admitted to a course of conduct involving the rape of an elderly victim whom he had previously sexually assaulted and attempted to rape. He also admitted sexually assaulting two other elderly women.
"All three of his victims had dementia and were residents at a care home where Murray worked. They were unable to speak or communicate verbally. It is difficult to imagine a more despicable or serious breach of trust."
SOURCE: STV
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