Gloria Foster care death: No criminal charges brought

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22465533

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No criminal charges will be brought in relation to the death of an 81-year-old woman who was left alone for nine days without food, water or medication.

Gloria Foster, of Banstead in Surrey, died in February after her care agency shut with no replacement following a raid by authorities.

She was found at home by a district nurse and died in hospital.

The cause of death was found to be pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis.

Mrs Foster was found suffering from dehydration and starvation after going without the four daily visits she was due to have.

'Tragic death'

Officers from the UK Border Agency and the Met Police raided the care agency Carefirst24 in Sutton, south London, on 15 January as part of an investigation into suspected illegal workers and fraud.

The care agency closed and six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into the UK.

The agency provided care to elderly people across Surrey and the London Borough of Sutton on behalf of the two local authorities.

The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board is investigating Mrs Foster's death.

Det Ch Insp Mark Preston, from Surrey Police, said: "Over the past three months we have carried out an extensive investigation looking at the circumstances leading up to Ms Foster's tragic death.

"We have received advice from the Crown Prosecution Service and we have determined that no criminal charges can be brought in relation to this case.

"The friends and family of Ms Foster have been updated as to the results of our investigation and we will now share our findings with Surrey County Council to assist them in ensuring that the circumstances of Ms Foster's tragic death are never replicated."