A live-in carer who punched a paralysed multiple sclerosis sufferer and left him in tears after harsh verbal and physical assaults has been struck off.

Mary Dumble swore, shouted and poked her employer, referred to as patient A, telling him he was stupid, while she cared for him at his New Malden home, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

Patient A, who was paralysed from the neck down and used a wheelchair, had employed her for 15 years to help him eat, drink, wash and travel.

But Dumble became controlling toward him, restricting the people he had contact with and keeping the phone on the floor out of his reach.

Nicola Brierly, patient A’s part-time assistant, told the panel she saw Dumble stand over him in an aggressive manner and punch him in the knees on several occasions and that patient A was often in tears after being with her.

The council heard that when Dumble and her boyfriend, who sometimes stayed, were forced to leave after concerns were raised, she then went on to take many of patient A’s personal items, including his passport and the house deeds.

She was struck off on Thursday, April 19.

Kingston Council’s integrated health and social care team manager Jenny Colvin gave evidence at the hearing in London on Tuesday, April 17.

She said: “He received verbal abuse on a regular basis for no apparent reason.

“He was very distressed. Just by his facial expressions and the tone of his voice, to me he was just a broken man.”

Dumble was not at the hearing, but in a written response to the council she said the allegations had caused her stress and sadness and added she did not wish to be on the nursing register at this time nor at any stage in the future.

In her written statement to the panel, Dumble said: “I enjoyed my nursing career and was well respected, but that part of my life has now finished.

“In general, I feel that it is very difficult for me to defend myself against these charges due to the length of time since these alleged incidents were said to have occurred, the lack of specific dates, and, most importantly, I am not able to call Patient A as the principal [sic] witness in my defence, as unfortunately he is now deceased.

“These allegations have caused me much stress and sadness having lived and worked with Patient A for several years of my life, often working many additional voluntary hours to enable him to live an independent and fulfilling life at home, on holiday and in various social settings.”

However, the panel noted that Dumble had never “acknowledged either her failings or how her actions had affected Patient A and his family and, on the contrary, focused solely on her own interests”.

The panel noted it was extremely concerned about her “lack of insight” and elected to strike Dumble from the register.

It also suggested that the council should consider referring her and the case to the Independent Safeguarding Authority for consideration.