A Barkingside nurse jailed for neglecting and assaulting an elderly dementia patient at Whipps Cross Hospital has lost an appeal to reduce her sentence.

Sharmila Gunda, 36, of Horns Road, and co-defendants Akosua Sakyiwaa, 38, of Leytonstone, and Annette Jackson, 33, of Hounslow, were found guilty of seven charges of neglecting women in their care at Snaresbrook Crown Court in June.

Gunda was jailed for five months and on Friday failed to convince judges the sentence was too harsh.

Judges at the Royal Court of Appeal in London threw out the appeal and upheld the original five month term.

Passing sentence in August, Judge Timothy Lamb QC said: “In short, by your offending you have let down your colleagues, you have damaged patient trust and you have undermined the quality of care for the elderly and vulnerable at Whipps Cross.”