A police officer who led an investigation into the ill-treatment and neglect of elderly patients at Whipps Cross Hospital has been chosen as London's Detective of the Year.

Detective Sergeant Tammy Dempsey, based in Waltham Forest, picked up the award at the Metropolitan Police 'Excellence in Total Police' ceremony yesterday.

Det Sgt Dempsey led an investigation into the mistreatment of up to 80 elderly patients suffering from Dementia at the Leytonstone Hospital.

The investigation resulted in the prosecution of three healthcare assistants in August 2013.

Akousa Sakyiwaa, 37, of Orange Grove, Leytonstone, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for four counts of ill treatment or neglect.

Sharmilla Gunda, 36, of Horns Road, Ilford, was sentenced to 5 months in prison for one count of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity and one count of common assault.

Annette Jackson, 33, of Hounslow, was sentenced to 2 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 100 hours unpaid work for one count of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity.

The three women were all found guilty of the offences after a student-nurse whistleblower reported their abuse to senior hospital staff.

A total of 21 awards were presented at the ceremony held in central London yesterday afternoon.

Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "Remarkable acts of professionalism and selfless acts of bravery are often carried out in the Metropolitan Police Service, but rarely remarked upon."

The investigation found Sakyiwaa had held a bed sheet over 87-year-old Joan Musset's head and told her she was dead. 

She also pushed elderly Elizabeth Toussant, shoving her down into a chair when she refused to be washed and slapped Louise Hodges, 92, when changing her bed clothes.

Sharmilla Gunda, 36, of Horns Road, Ilford, was sentenced to 5 months in prison for one count of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity and one count of common assault.