Modern Britain : no country for old men
Richard chose to illustrate his point by focussing on the case of 83-year-old grandfather Walter Crompton, who :
* had been his wife's 'carer' for the last 15 years of his 60 year marriage, but when her dementia took a serious turn for the worse, reluctantly admitted her to the Allendale Residential Home, in Blackley, Manchester.
* found that during one of his regular visits, his wife complained that her arthritis was causing her severe discomfort and having a pain patch in his pocket, placed it on her arm.
* four days later, was arrested by police on suspicion of ‘administering a noxious substance’ with intent 'to injure, aggrieve or annoy' under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and, if found guilty, faced a maximum of 5 years in jail.
* had his house searched while locked up in a cell without food for seven hours, was fingerprinted, forced to give a DNA swab and at midnight was interviewed before being bailed in the early hours of the morning.
* had his house searched while locked up in a cell without food for seven hours, was fingerprinted, forced to give a DNA swab and at midnight was interviewed before being bailed in the early hours of the morning.
* found, that as part of his bail conditions, was barred from contacting his wife and later said : "I used to see her every day, but after my arrest I was told not to contact her at all. I was allowed to see her later, but only under supervision with someone watching us. Two or three days a week there was no one to go with me, so I was restrained from seeing her. It was terrible."
* had his case passed to the specialist Greater Manchester Police Public Protection Investigation Unit and after a two-month investigation, was told he would not face charges.
'After his dreadful ordeal, Walter would be forgiven for concluding that modern Britain is No Country For Old Men.'
