Carer who ill-treated 91-year-old dementia patient avoids jail
Last updated 7th Apr 2026
A care worker who told a 91-year-old dementia patient she did not deserve to be looked after, and it was “a shame” when she did not hurt herself, has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay her victim £500 compensation.
Lindsey Cass, from Newcastleton, admitted ill-treating or wilfully neglecting the pensioner at a house in the village between September 1st and 12th last year.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard the 60-year-old - who now works as a part time cleaner at a local pub - had been given no proper training before taking on the role.
Cass previously admitted repeatedly shouting and swearing at the grandmother, acting in an aggressive manner towards her, and repeatedly uttering offensive and derogatory remarks towards her.
She also taunted her, uttered a threat of violence towards her and failed to handle her with sufficient care.
However, a not guilty plea to assaulting the woman to her injury was accepted by the Crown.
Cass's solicitor, Mat Patrick, said his client had shown genuine remorse following her arrest.
He explained she "feels terrible" for breaking the family's trust and has no intention to work as a carer again.
"Her handling of (the complainer) was inappropriate but absolutely would not have been had she been given proper training," he added.
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In addition to the unpaid work, Cass was also given a six-month Restriction Of Liberty Order - as part of a 12-month supervision order - when she returned to court for sentence today (Tuesday), which means she must remain at her home between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next six months.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said her actions did meet the custody threshold.
But the pensioner's family say their main concern is she isn't allowed to be in a position to reoffend.
In a victim impact statement shared by them with Greatest Hits Radio they add: "I feel it is important that someone recognises what a detrimental effect the trauma suffered by our Mam at the hands of Lyndsey Cass has had on both herself and the wider family.
"Dementia has taken so much of our Mam and this series of events has taken so much more – unfortunately we will never be able to reverse the decline caused.
"My Mam has not got the capacity to relay how she feels but it is very obvious to those of us who know her so well that she has been profoundly affected."
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