West Bromwich Carer Admits Attempted Murder

20 February 2015, 12:39 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A 23 year-old care worker from West Bromwich has admitted trying to poison three of her workmates at a nursing home.

Melissa Swift put bleach in some of their drinks on 4 August 2014 and three of them were taken seriously ill with food poisoning symptoms.

They'd all drunk their drinks from the staff room fridge but did recover a few days later after medical treatment.

Swift, who used to work at Sandwell Police as a volunteer officer, pleaded guilty today to three counts of attempted murder against co-workers and two counts of threats to kill against a co-worker and her sister.

Detective Chief Inspector Michaela Kerr, from the force’s Public Protection Unit, led investigation for West Midlands Police.

She said: "Melissa deceived her colleagues and hatched a plan to cause ill to those she worked with as a result of some malice, for which we have never truly discovered the cause.

"She not only thought out a way of poisoning her work mates but also followed the plan through and administered bleach to their drinks, leaving them in the usual staff fridge where she knew they would go.

"The plan was dangerous, reckless and hugely alarming. There is nothing to have stopped anyone from consuming the drinks she tampered with and, given the nature of her profession and workplace as a care provider, she went against everything her dedicated colleagues worked for.

"Thankfully no one was seriously injured as a result of what she did, but the story could so easily have been different.

"She now awaits sentence - something those who fell victim to her actions are keen to witness as they seek justice for their ordeals."

Swift will return to court on 17 April when she will be sentenced.