Council guilty of illegal care home move

A war veteran, aged 91, has been awarded damages after being locked in a dementia unit by his local council.

The court heard how social workers seized the 91-year-old from his house and imprisoned him in a care home for 17 months against his will. The social workers claimed they were taking the man to a hotel, and threatened to call the police when he refused to cooperate.

District Judge Paul Mort condemned the actions of Essex County Council, who repeatedly refused to accept independent expert reports which found that the gentleman was fit to live at home.

Judge Mort described the treatment of the former RAF gunner as "inexcusable" and "disturbing". He ruled that the man had been unlawfully detained and awarded him £150,000, together with free care at home for the rest of his life.

In his ruling Judge Mort said that the man had lived in his home for 50 years, first with his parents and sister, and since their deaths, alone with his cat Fluffy. He attended church every Sunday, and had a large group of friends who described him as generous to charities and those in need.

Neither the man involved, nor the social workers have been named.

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