A Nigerian former care worker, Ediongseyene Essien, has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the United Kingdom for a series of burglary and robbery offences targeting elderly and vulnerable people in Liverpool, including some individuals he had previously cared for.
Essien appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, August 28, where he was sentenced to three years for burglary and five years for robbery. The sentences will run consecutively.
According to Merseyside Police, Essien, who is a Nigerian national, will serve 30 per cent of his sentence before being deported from the UK. A restraining order has also been imposed to protect his six victims.
Essien had worked as a carer until March 9, when his employers suspended him following allegations of theft.
Police said that the following day, March 10, he committed four separate burglaries in the L6 area of Liverpool, targeting elderly and vulnerable people, including some former clients.
In the first incident, Essien allegedly stole a bank card belonging to a vulnerable blind man and used it to carry out several transactions in the area.
He later entered another property and went into the bedroom of an elderly resident, although nothing was believed to have been stolen.
Later that evening, police said Essien entered the home of a severely disabled person at about 7:30pm. Again, nothing was believed to have been taken.
At around 9pm, he allegedly smashed the rear patio door of an elderly couple’s home. The couple reportedly watched as he entered their living room and stole a wallet containing cash.
Essien was arrested on March 16 in connection with the offences and was subsequently released on conditional bail while investigations continued.
However, police said he committed two further robbery offences on May 15.
At about 2:20pm that day, Essien allegedly went to the home of a vulnerable man with several health conditions, forced his way inside and took cash from the living room.
Later, at around 5pm, he approached a vulnerable woman carrying a walking stick in the Fairfield area and forcibly grabbed her handbag, which contained cash and bank cards.
Essien was arrested again on May 17 and charged with the two robbery offences before being remanded in custody.
Detective Inspector Kevin O’Rourke of Merseyside Police condemned Essien’s actions, describing them as particularly reprehensible because some of the victims had previously been under his care.
“Essien committed a series of reprehensible burglary and robbery offences against people he had previously cared for, and other vulnerable victims,” O’Rourke said.
He added that it was “beyond comprehension” that someone who had worked in a caring role would target people who had previously depended on him for support, as well as other elderly and unwell victims.
According to the detective inspector, the offences caused considerable distress to the victims, who cooperated with investigators throughout the case.
O’Rourke said the sentence would hopefully provide some measure of comfort to those affected by Essien’s actions.
Merseyside Police also highlighted the role of CCTV and doorbell cameras in helping investigators identify suspects and piece together the circumstances surrounding criminal offences.
The force encouraged members of the public who capture criminal activity or suspicious behaviour on CCTV or doorbell cameras to report the footage to police.
Essien’s eight-year sentence comprises three years for burglary and five years for robbery, with both terms to be served consecutively. As a Nigerian national, he is expected to serve 30 per cent of the sentence before deportation, while the restraining order will remain in place to protect his six victims.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.