A nursing assistant stuffed a wet wipe into 96-year-old Phyllis Hadlow's (pictured) mouth to silence the dementia patient's screams . A hospital nursing assistant stuffed a wet wipe into a 96-year-old woman's mouth to stop her screaming. Deborah Roberts, 53, forced the tissue into Phyllis Hadlow's mouth in an attempt to silence her in front of other nursing staff at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. She also poured water over the dementia patient, telling other staff: 'My son said if they do it to you, you can do it to them.' A court heard how Roberts, 53, mistreated Mrs Hadlow when the elderly widow was being treated at the hospital. Roberts was found guilty of one count of ill-treatment or wilful neglect of a person without capacity following a two-day trial - but avoided a prison sentence. Mrs Hadlow, who has since died, needed extensive medical care and would occasionally lash out and shout, Canterbury Magistrates' Court was told. Staff nurse Janet Nelson said she heard screaming coming from her bed and went to investigate, only to see Roberts shove the wet wipe into the elderly woman's mouth. Roberts told her she did it to stop the patient screaming and Mrs Nelson  told her: 'I don't want to see this again.' In a separate incident, Mrs Hadlow threw water at Roberts so she retaliated by filling a plastic cup with water and pouring some on her head. Healthcare assistant Lisa Ross said Roberts told her: 'I have had enough of this. My son said if they do it to you, you can do it to them.' Roger Davies, defending, said Roberts had wrecked a lifelong career and was now unemployable as a nursing assistant. Roberts, who worked at Kent & Canterbury Hospital, also poured water over the elderly widow, telling other staff: 'My son said if they do it to you, you can do it to them.' He said: 'She didn't think about the consequences of her actions. She will be reminded every week of what she has done and the price she has paid.' Roberts, from Deal, Kent was suspended after the incident in October 2013 and then sacked. Julie Pearce, chief nurse and director of quality for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We are very sorry for the care Mrs Hadlow received whilst in our hospital and for the distress this would have caused to herself and her family. 'As soon as we were made aware of these allegations in October 2013 we suspended Mrs Roberts, referred the incident to the police and subsequently dismissed her following a disciplinary hearing.' Mrs Hadlow's son, Dennis, 71, who was too upset to face sitting through the trial, said: 'We know people with advanced dementia can be difficult to handle but the staff are supposed to be trained. 'I am glad the witnesses who saw what happened had the courage to speak out. 'We were told the sentence was one step below being sent to prison, but it will also have ended her career.' Roberts was given a one-year community order, which includes 120 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £750 costs.
Nurse Deborah Roberts forced a wet wipe into Phyllis Hadlow's mouth .
Dementia patient, 96, occasionally screamed out because of her condition .
Roberts, 53, also poured water over the elderly widow in a hospital ward .
She admitted wilfully neglecting frail Mrs Hadlow but will not be jailed .