A CARER from Thornton Heath has been jailed for attacking a man in a wheelchair she was paid to look after.
Claudine Ingabire, 31, of Stanley Road, slapped her 55-year-old victim twice on the back and attempted to push him out of his wheelchair after demanding money from him and smashing his property.
She had been hired temporarily to look after the man, who is in need of 24-hour care to help with day-to-day living.
The man has been in a wheelchair for the last 20 years following an accident in which he sustained spinal injuries and lost the function of his legs. He also has limited mobility in his arms and none in his fingers.
The court heard Ingabire had attended the victim's house to collect her belongings on July 18 last year but began to demand money from him which he refused to give her.
She then started smashing items, including one of his phones he was using to try and call police for help, which is when she assaulted him.
The victim managed to escape to another room and lock himself in until the police arrived.
Lambeth's Community Safety Unit took over the investigation and arrested Ingabire on a return flight from Belgium on August 19.
She was then charged with assault by beating and criminal damage, which she pleaded guilty to on January 29 at Croydon Magistrates' Court.
She was jailed for four months and ordered to pay £200 compensation to the victim, with an additional £80 victim surcharge.
Detective Inspector Ian Kenward, from Lambeth Community Safety Unit, said: "This case involved the shameful abuse of a vulnerable man by someone in a position of trust.
"I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and resolve shown by the victim throughout the investigation. His evidence and support along with the investigative tenacity of the officers involved were pivotal in bringing this case to a positive conclusion.
"I hope this serves to illustrate that police will do everything within their power to deal with such offences in a robust and timely manner."
