‘Trust was horribly broken’: Rest home caregiver raped, violated vulnerable women in his care

Monday, 6 July 2026

“She went into care trusting that she would be safe, respected and looked after with dignity. Instead, that trust was horribly broken by you.”

Those were the words of the daughter of a victim of former caregiver Nilushan Jayanga Silva Ginthota Vidhanahe, who has been sentenced for crimes that Judge Jane Farish later described as one of the most serious breaches of trust imaginable.

Vidhanahe was jailed for 10 years and six months after being convicted of crimes against three people – raping an elderly rest home resident, sexually violating an injured patient under the guise of a medical examination, and intimidating a schoolgirl.

The court heard the Sri Lankan national used his position as a night-shift caregiver at a Christchurch care facility to target vulnerable women who depended on others for their care and safety.

He had worked at the facility, which was granted permanent name suppression to avoid undue hardship on staff and others, for about six months when the offending occurred between April and July 2024.

Judge Farish found Vidhanahe raped an elderly resident suffering from vascular dementia after assisting her to the bathroom during an overnight shift.

The woman later became distressed about returning to the facility and fearful of seeing him again, eventually disclosing the assault to her family.

In a victim impact statement, her daughter told the court the family had entrusted staff with her mother’s care and wellbeing.

“You were employed as a caregiver, a role that carries responsibility, compassion and integrity. Instead of honouring that role, you chose to prey on someone vulnerable, my mum, and you abused that position in the most unacceptable and devastating way.”

The second victim was recovering from serious injuries suffered in a cycling accident when Vidhanahe entered her room in the early hours of one morning.

He falsely claimed he needed to conduct a medical assessment before sexually violating her.

Believing he was a healthcare professional carrying out a legitimate procedure, the woman initially did not realise she had been sexually violated. It was only after discussing the incident with relatives that concerns were raised.

The court also heard Vidhanahe later intimidated a schoolgirl after stopping his vehicle beside her as she walked home from school.

Judge Farish said he offered the girl a cigarette and then a lift. When she refused both offers, he forcefully directed her to get into the vehicle.

The girl ran away, later recording the vehicle’s registration number and reporting the incident to her mother.

While the intimidation charge carried a lesser penalty, Judge Farish said the incident was troubling and difficult to reconcile with the positive character references filed on Vidhanahe’s behalf.

The judge said the offending against the women involved an extraordinary abuse of trust and vulnerability.

“It’s perhaps difficult to imagine a more serious breach of trust.

“And the offending occurred only because of the high degree of trust and position of authority that Mr Vidhanahe was in.”

She said families place enormous trust in caregivers when they hand over the care of elderly and vulnerable loved ones.

The daughter of the woman who was raped told the court the consequences of the offending had extended far beyond affecting just her mother.

“The physical and emotional impact on her has been profound and it has affected our entire family.

“You violated not only my mum, but also the trust placed in you as a caregiver. Caregivers are meant to protect and support the vulnerable, not harm them.”

Vidhanahe was sentenced on May 6 to 10 years and six months' imprisonment for rape, four years’ imprisonment on the sexual violation charges, and one month’s imprisonment on the intimidation charge, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

The court heard Vidhanahe will be deported to Sri Lanka after reaching his parole eligibility date.