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| Whorlton Hall: BBC film exposed staff cruelty, court told | Whorlton Hall: BBC film exposed staff cruelty, court told |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Whorlton Hall, which has since closed, was privately run but funded by the NHS | Whorlton Hall, which has since closed, was privately run but funded by the NHS |
| A BBC documentary exposed the "cruel and abusive" attitudes of staff at a hospital for vulnerable patients, a court has heard. | A BBC documentary exposed the "cruel and abusive" attitudes of staff at a hospital for vulnerable patients, a court has heard. |
| Nine workers were charged with a total of 27 offences after an undercover reporter filmed at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, in 2019. | |
| Teesside Crown Court heard how patients with learning difficulties were verbally abused and mocked by staff. | Teesside Crown Court heard how patients with learning difficulties were verbally abused and mocked by staff. |
| The six men and three women deny ill treating patients. | The six men and three women deny ill treating patients. |
| The specialist hospital for people with complex needs, which has since closed, was privately run but funded by the NHS. | The specialist hospital for people with complex needs, which has since closed, was privately run but funded by the NHS. |
| The BBC sent reporter Olivia Davies to work at the unit for a Panorama documentary. | The BBC sent reporter Olivia Davies to work at the unit for a Panorama documentary. |
| Some patients who were ill-treated had been detained at the 17-bed facility under the Mental Health Act, the court heard. | Some patients who were ill-treated had been detained at the 17-bed facility under the Mental Health Act, the court heard. |
| Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said: "There was something of a culture of inappropriate behaviour within Whorlton Hall." | Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said: "There was something of a culture of inappropriate behaviour within Whorlton Hall." |
| 'Man button' | 'Man button' |
| One defendant said on camera he had invented an imaginary device to summon male staff for a female patient who said she did not want men to look after her. | One defendant said on camera he had invented an imaginary device to summon male staff for a female patient who said she did not want men to look after her. |
| The court heard Peter Bennett, 53, used the threat of the "man button" to make the patient comply. | The court heard Peter Bennett, 53, used the threat of the "man button" to make the patient comply. |
| He is also alleged to have said he would issue staff with balloons, as he knew the patient did not like them. | He is also alleged to have said he would issue staff with balloons, as he knew the patient did not like them. |
| Another defendant, Niall Mellor, 26, was heard to call the same patient "a retard" and said residents did not need good treatment, jurors were told. | Another defendant, Niall Mellor, 26, was heard to call the same patient "a retard" and said residents did not need good treatment, jurors were told. |
| Miss Richardson said Ryan Fuller, 26, called a different resident a "bitch" and when he learned of more patients coming to the unit spoke of "how much fun he would have with them". | Miss Richardson said Ryan Fuller, 26, called a different resident a "bitch" and when he learned of more patients coming to the unit spoke of "how much fun he would have with them". |
| John Sanderson, 25, claimed to have repeatedly unplugged a patient's phone while the man was speaking to his sister, resulting in the patient becoming agitated, the court heard. | John Sanderson, 25, claimed to have repeatedly unplugged a patient's phone while the man was speaking to his sister, resulting in the patient becoming agitated, the court heard. |
| Sabah Mahmood, 27, was said to have told a resident that her family were "poison", despite knowing the patient blamed herself for the death of a relative. | Sabah Mahmood, 27, was said to have told a resident that her family were "poison", despite knowing the patient blamed herself for the death of a relative. |
| Staff nurse Karen McGhee, 54, allegedly did not protect a patient from ill-treatment during a period of restraint by other staff. | Staff nurse Karen McGhee, 54, allegedly did not protect a patient from ill-treatment during a period of restraint by other staff. |
| 'Not an easy job' | 'Not an easy job' |
| Miss Richardson said: "The Crown does not suggest that the defendants were ill treating all of the residents all of the time - caring for those within Whorlton Hall was not an easy job. | Miss Richardson said: "The Crown does not suggest that the defendants were ill treating all of the residents all of the time - caring for those within Whorlton Hall was not an easy job. |
| "Nonetheless, you will hear from witnesses, in conjunction with the BBC footage, that at times the defendants' attitude and care to certain residents was cruel and abusive." | "Nonetheless, you will hear from witnesses, in conjunction with the BBC footage, that at times the defendants' attitude and care to certain residents was cruel and abusive." |
| She said the counts of ill treatment or wilful neglect of a person in care related to victims who were unable to protect themselves. | She said the counts of ill treatment or wilful neglect of a person in care related to victims who were unable to protect themselves. |
| Miss Richardson said the defendants claimed they had received minimal training, that the hall was understaffed and that those they cared for were extremely challenging. | Miss Richardson said the defendants claimed they had received minimal training, that the hall was understaffed and that those they cared for were extremely challenging. |
| The accused face the following number of charges of ill-treatment of a person in care: | |
| John Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington - two | John Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington - two |
| Darren Lawton, 47, of Miners Crescent, Darlington - two | Darren Lawton, 47, of Miners Crescent, Darlington - two |
| Niall Mellor, 26, of Lingmell Dene, Coundon, Bishop Auckland - two | Niall Mellor, 26, of Lingmell Dene, Coundon, Bishop Auckland - two |
| Sara Banner, 33, of Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe - three | Sara Banner, 33, of Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe - three |
| Matthew Banner, 43, of the same address - six | Matthew Banner, 43, of the same address - six |
| Ryan Fuller, 26, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle - 10 | Ryan Fuller, 26, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle - 10 |
| Sabah Mahmood, 27, of Woodland Crescent, Kelloe - one | Sabah Mahmood, 27, of Woodland Crescent, Kelloe - one |
| Peter Bennett, 52, of Redworth Road, Billingham - three | Peter Bennett, 52, of Redworth Road, Billingham - three |
| Karen McGee, 54, of Wildair Close, Darlington - two, plus one count of wilful neglect | Karen McGee, 54, of Wildair Close, Darlington - two, plus one count of wilful neglect |
| The trial will continue on Thursday when footage from the documentary will be shown in court. | The trial will continue on Thursday when footage from the documentary will be shown in court. |
| Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Whorlton Hall abuse scandal | Whorlton Hall abuse scandal |