A former Kelowna care aide is behind bars for assaulting a client.
The plaintiff’s and the victim’s identities are protected under a publication ban.
Appearing in provincial court in Kelowna on July 28, the 25-year-old man is going to spend the next 18 months behind bars for assault, on more than one occasion, of a man he had been hired to look after.
On multiple instances in April and May 2024, the plaintiff was seen on video from the victim’s room beating the man in the head, body and groin, sometimes with a closed fist and as many as seven times in a row. The victim is a person with a disability and is non-verbal, meaning he could not defend himself.
Judge Cathie Heinrichs said she had considered higher than Crown’s request as the plaintiff acted as a “trustworthy caregiver by day” and that attacks were not provoked.
On one occasion, the victim required three stitches for a cut. About a week later, the parents of the victim saw fresh blood on the cut as it had reopened and a black eye. This ultimately led to the parents watching back the video footage from the victim’s room and discovering the plaintiff’s actions.
The Kelowna man was taken into custody following his court appearance.
Once released, the plaintiff will have to comply by probation orders such as taking on no work with vulnerable persons, having no contact with the victim or his family, no posting online about the victim or his family, and attend counselling.