TV reporter chained up 84 year old

Boot given the boot

A Today Tonight reporter has been suspended after supplying chains that were used to lock an 84-year-old woman to her nursing home room.

Reporter Nicholas Boot's story led Tuesday night's bulletin of Today Tonight and featured an elderly woman chained to a cupboard at the Willoughby Aged Care Retirement Centre by a long chunky chain.

"As we go to air tonight this 84-year-old grandmother remains locked up in her nursing home room chained to a cupboard," Today Tonight host Anna Coren told viewers.

Boot opened his report with the words: "Shirley Frey would have to be the oldest person in Australia to be kicked out of a nursing home."

"But this feisty 84-year-old is refusing to budge, chaining herself to her room."

It turns out the chain was all a set up by Boot who bought the chain and suggested the gag to the 84 year old.

The gag was exposed after Federal officials investigated the claim.

Seven apologised last night