The grieving daughter of an OAP bullied by a vile care worker says she questioned whether the abuse led to her mum's death.
Valentina Baghiu giggled while poking, taunting and grabbing at helpless Elizabeth Ann Mernock, 83, who had dementia.
Shocking videos showed the 23-year-old ignoring her victim's pleas to leave her alone and threatening her with a clenched fist.
Baghiu even struck the pensioner's legs with a broom as she hissed "f*** you, you old bat" and said "hell will become of you".
But the pregnant mum-of-one was spared jail after she admitted ill-treating or wilfully neglecting a person lacking capacity.
A concerned member of staff filmed the abuse at Birch Tree Manor care home, in Port Sunlight, on two unspecified dates between May and November 2019.
Mrs Mernock died that November and the following month the whistleblower sent an email to Wirral Adult Social Care Services containing the two videos.
The victim's daughter, Sarah Thomas, told Liverpool Crown Court she "felt sick to the pit of my stomach" when she found out what police were investigating.
And she revealed how just weeks before she died, her mum had complained about "people hitting, pushing and shouting at her on multiple occasions".
Mrs Thomas said her mum was visibly upset when talking about this, but after talking to staff she thought because of her mum's condition "it was probably just in her head".
She said: "Then to find out what had happened was true, makes it feel incredibly upsetting.
"It begs the question, if I had believed her at the time, would she still be here today?"
In an emotional victim statement, Mrs Thomas said her mum had been a social worker, who spent her life looking after vulnerable people.
She said: "To then find out that when she was at her most vulnerable, she was taken advantage of, is sickening.
"My mother had one-to-one care, which mistakenly made the family presume she was very safe, well looked after, and most importantly, happy.
"Instead, now we must contend with the fact that her final weeks were full of misery, fear and trauma, which has inevitably led us to question whether it led to a deterioration of her condition and death.
"It is a question I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
Jonathan Duffy, prosecuting, told the court Mrs Mernock died in November 2019, but added: "I make clear not in circumstances related to these offences."
Baghiu, formerly of Borough Road, Tranmere, made some cruel remarks to Mrs Mernock in her native tongue, Romanian, but these were translated to English.
In the first clip she was revealed to say "f*** you, you old bat" and "hell will become of you, I'll sweep you up, you're going to get it".
Baghiu added: "Watch out, you will see what a good plucking you're going to get tonight."
Mr Duffy said it showed Baghiu "seemingly waking up the victim, who was asleep in a chair in a public area of the care home" by "striking or poking her in her legs" with a brush she was using to sweep the floor.
In the second clip, Baghiu laughed as her defenceless victim repeatedly begged "get off me", "leave me alone" and "stop it".
Baghiu told her "look at me" and when Mrs Mernock tried to get out of her chair to escape, grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
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One translation of a comment made by Baghiu was said to be either "I'll mess you up like nothing else" or "I'll give you a few slaps over the head".
Baghiu, now of Warren Road, Warrington, also told the pensioner: "Don't scratch me or you will get f***ed up."
In the footage she could be seen poking her fingers at the woman's face, saying: "You would think I'm playing with the cat."
And while waving her clenched fist in her face, she threatened: "You are going to get it tonight, do you understand?"
Baghiu, who has no previous convictions, said she provided financially for her five-year-old son in Romania and was expecting a second child in October.
Magistrates sent her case to the crown court because they felt their sentencing powers were insufficient, because they could only impose six months in jail.
But the judge, Recorder David O'Mahoney, who could have jailed Baghiu for up to five years, handed her six months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
He also ordered her to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work and made a 15-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
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Mrs Thomas and her brother were visibly distressed and angry at the outcome, but declined to comment.
Speaking afterwards about the "incredibly sad" case, Alan Currums, an associate prosecutor for CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: "The victim’s family had planned their mother's funeral but were then told it had to be delayed because of what had emerged about Baghiu.
"They couldn't talk to anyone about this as a criminal investigation was underway.
"They had thought their mother was safe but she had become the victim of a heartless and callous bully."
He added: "Most carers, including the staff at this home, care for the residents compassionately and competently, despite the challenges presented by patients with dementia.
"The good work of the vast majority of carers should not be forgotten when the actions of people like Valentina Baghiu come to light. They are the bad apples in an area of care that is often the scene of great kindness and professionalism."
A spokesman for Birch Tree Manor Care Home said: “We are saddened and disappointed that these incidents occurred in our home and worked with the relevant authorities throughout to bring this prosecution.
"The health and wellbeing of our residents is our number one priority and this episode is not a reflection on our outstanding and dedicated staff.
"We dispute Ms Baghiu’s allegations regarding her working patterns and training and do everything we can to ensure that our staff maintain the highest possible standards.”
