NSW shonky care workers including Adam Ledgerwood, Tovale Kalati
They are employed to work with and protect society’s most vulnerable. But many are far from saints. These are the care workers who have been shamed before the courts.
Blacktown
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They were employed to look after our community’s most vulnerable, yet these are the disability support and aged care workers who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Tovale Kalati – assaulting vulnerable patients
A Sydney aged care worker who assaulted seven vulnerable patients in Sydney’s inner west was spared jail but banned from working in healthcare.
Tovale Kalati, 57, from Yagoona assaulted seven patients at Presbyterian Aged Care in Ashfield from February to October 2019.
Kalati, who was an assistant in nursing had worked in the aged care facility for 10 years.
On one occasion she took a pillow and covered a victim’s face with it before lifting it up and laughing, according to agreed facts.
Kalati pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault at Burwood Local Court and was sentenced to a seven-month intensive correction order last October.
The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) found Kalati “failed to provide care in a safe and ethical manner” in March this year.
She has been permanently banned from providing any health services.
Daniel Nuumaalii – filming intimate images of clients
A former western Sydney care worker who filmed intimate images of people under his care was jailed in April.
Daniel Nuumaalii, 21, from Eastern Creek, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, four counts of intentionally distributing an intimate image without consent, and one count of common assault.
Several video files of patients including one who was in the shower were found in two phones seized by police, the court heard.
Another video of Nuumaalii blowing vape smoke into a client’s face before slapping them on the cheek.
“I can’t disregard the offences are aggravated by the nature of the victims. These were vulnerable young people with special needs and disabilities,” magistrate Carl Milovanovich said in sentencing.
He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and will be first eligible for parole in October 2021.
Adam Ledgerwood – having sex with disabled client
A Central Coast disability support carer had sex with his client while employed at an in-home disability support services agency.
Adam Ledgerwood, 42, from Halekulani, has pleaded guilty to three counts of having sex with a person with a cognitive impairment who was under his care.
The victim had lived with a cognitive impairment which had deteriorated in 2018 to the point where she was deemed “totally disabled,” according to agreed facts.
Ledgerwood was her carer and was employed to take her to medical appointments, prepare meals and perform household chores.
On one occasion he placed his hand on the woman’s (genitalia) on top of her clothing before he said “Come on, let’s go into the bedroom,” according to facts.
“The complainant did not say yes or no,” the facts read.
He then took off her pants and performed a sex act on her.
On another occasion he again took the victim to the bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her.
She later told another support worker who advised her to report it to police.
Ledgerwood will be sentenced in July this year.
Violeta Hansen – stealing from terminally ill patients
A disgraced carer brazenly stole tens of thousands of dollars of jewellery and cash from her terminally ill and disabled patients over the course of 10 months.
Violeta Hansen, 47, from Blacktown, stole jewellery and cash from 11 patients who lived across Sydney while working as a support worker for elderly and vulnerable patients.
Hansen, who is originally from the Philippines, pleaded guilty to 10 stealing charges, three counts of obtaining benefit by deception, one count of goods in custody and another larceny charge.
The court previously heard she stole several pieces of sentimental value including wedding rings while working as a support worker.
On another occasion she took a victim’s credit card and withdrew $7,453 cash.
Hansen was sentenced to 24 months in jail with a 16-month non parole period.
She will be eligible for parole in February 2022.
Joseph Strada – exposing himself to multiple women
Joseph Strada worked as a support worker for young people living with a disability when he was sentenced in May after exposing himself to multiple women on Sydney streets.
The 27-year-old, from Turramurra, pleaded guilty to exposing himself to five women on five occasions between July and December last year.
Strada is an occupation support worker who works at a support work agency assisting people aged 10-30 with a disability, according to agreed facts.
On one occasion he drove up to two women walking their dog in Denistone before pulling up beside them.
He then asked for directions before one of the women saw that his penis was exposed.
“You’ve got no pants on,” the woman said.
“I hope I’ve given you ladies some pleasure,” he replied.
Another woman was approached by Strada on two separate occasions near Normanhurst Boys High School, according to facts.
He exposed himself to her both times without her consent.
Strada was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order in May.
He has recently lodged a sentence appeal and is due to return to court next month.
Zoee Smith – ripped off clients
Central Coast disability carer Zoee Smith was jailed after she stole nearly $2500 off her vulnerable clients.
The 24-year-old from Woongarrah pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception last July and was sentenced to 14 months in jail.
Smith worked as a disability support carer at C.A. Care Services where her clients included women suffering from severe depression, bipolar and other conditions.
On one occasion, she took one of the victim's bank cards to withdraw $1175 to pay for her own car expenses and personal items, according to agreed facts.
Smith appealed her sentence three months later where her lawyer asked if she could serve her sentence by way of an intensive corrections order.
Yet the judge ruled the offences were so serious that general deterrence was “required” and confirmed the conviction and jail sentence.
Smith was due to be released in April.
Anthony Wopenka – assaulting woman and sharing intimate images
Anthony Wopenka, 23, was jailed after he repeatedly slapped a woman in the face without her consent during sex and shared pictures of her having intercourse with another man.
Wopenka, who worked for a disability service provider Westhaven, pleaded guilty to common assault and two counts of intentionally recording and distributing intimate images without consent.
During a group sex encounter, he slapped the victim’s face during sex while she told him “don’t do that,” according to court documents.
When she was having sex with another man, he then took a picture and shared it in a group chat, the court heard.
Police said they held “grave concerns” for the welfare of the vulnerable residents he worked for given the nature of the offence, according to facts.
Wopenka was sentenced to a 12-month intensive community corrections order last November.
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