A former Adelaide aged care worker jailed for bashing a nursing home resident has been granted home detention bail while he appeals his conviction.
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Michael Mullen, 55, was jailed this week for at least nine months for the assault on 72-year-old dementia patient Elizabeth Hannaford.
He came before Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday and was granted bail on the condition he surrenders himself if his appeal fails.
Mullen, 55, was found guilty of assaulting Ms Hannaford at Southern Cross Care's Lourdes Valley nursing home, at Myrtle Bank, in November 2015.
In sentencing, magistrate Paul Foley said Mullen became frustrated with Ms Hannaford after she repeatedly triggered an alarm by pulling on the cord leading to sensor mats around her bed.
"Eventually, you became so annoyed with her that you came into the room she shared with Meg Rogers and struck her in the face more than once," he said.
"There can be no excuse for you assaulting Ms Hannaford, who was in your care that morning and vulnerable."
Ms Hannaford was left with significant bruising and swelling to her face, and cried out in pain after the attack.
Outside court on Thursday, her former partner David Binns said the decision to grant Mullen bail was disappointing.
"But he's been fighting it all along," Mr Binns said.
"We finally got to the stage where he was proved guilty and he was put in jail."
Mullen's appeal is expected to be heard in May.
Australian Associated Press