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| Whorlton Hall: Carer sorry for 'stupid' jokes about patients | Whorlton Hall: Carer sorry for 'stupid' jokes about patients |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Whorlton Hall in County Durham has closed since the 2019 Panorama documentary | Whorlton Hall in County Durham has closed since the 2019 Panorama documentary |
| A carer accused of ill treating patients at a secure hospital has apologised for making "inappropriate" jokes about them. | A carer accused of ill treating patients at a secure hospital has apologised for making "inappropriate" jokes about them. |
| Nine former workers at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, deny 27 offences arising from an undercover BBC Panorama film in 2019. | Nine former workers at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, deny 27 offences arising from an undercover BBC Panorama film in 2019. |
| Niall Mellor, the sixth defendant to give evidence, told Teesside Crown Court it was a "stressful" place. | Niall Mellor, the sixth defendant to give evidence, told Teesside Crown Court it was a "stressful" place. |
| He said jokes were "not professional" but "if you don't laugh you'll cry". | He said jokes were "not professional" but "if you don't laugh you'll cry". |
| 'Horseplay' | 'Horseplay' |
| Jurors have seen various video clips filmed by undercover reporter Olivia Davies, who posed as a carer at the 17-bedroom hospital for people with extreme behavioural and learning difficulties. | Jurors have seen various video clips filmed by undercover reporter Olivia Davies, who posed as a carer at the 17-bedroom hospital for people with extreme behavioural and learning difficulties. |
| In one clip Mr Mellor, 26, who faces two charges of ill-treating one male patient, talked about "nipping" a patient while chatting with Ms Davies. | In one clip Mr Mellor, 26, who faces two charges of ill-treating one male patient, talked about "nipping" a patient while chatting with Ms Davies. |
| Under questioning from prosecutor Anne Richardson, Mr Mellor said that was a "wholly inappropriate" thing to say but he would "never do anything like that". | Under questioning from prosecutor Anne Richardson, Mr Mellor said that was a "wholly inappropriate" thing to say but he would "never do anything like that". |
| He said he was joking and wanting to be the "centre of attention", adding: "It was horseplay". | He said he was joking and wanting to be the "centre of attention", adding: "It was horseplay". |
| Mr Mellor said: "I would say many absurd things to act the goat, be the centre of attention." | Mr Mellor said: "I would say many absurd things to act the goat, be the centre of attention." |
| He said Whorlton Hall was "extremely different", "stressful" and "not a normal place" to work and staff would make jokes. | He said Whorlton Hall was "extremely different", "stressful" and "not a normal place" to work and staff would make jokes. |
| "At times it would be inappropriate and not professional but I know how stressful it is there and if you don't laugh you'll cry, that was the case," Mr Mellor said. | "At times it would be inappropriate and not professional but I know how stressful it is there and if you don't laugh you'll cry, that was the case," Mr Mellor said. |
| 'Pyjamas' | 'Pyjamas' |
| The court heard Mr Mellor used extreme language and insults when talking about some patients, but he told jurors that was "absolutely not" what he thought of the patients, adding: "Not for one second when I worked with any patient did I demonstrate any of this to them". | The court heard Mr Mellor used extreme language and insults when talking about some patients, but he told jurors that was "absolutely not" what he thought of the patients, adding: "Not for one second when I worked with any patient did I demonstrate any of this to them". |
| Ms Richardson accused Mr Mellor of deliberately "winding up" the man named in the charges by saying "pyjamas" to him when he knew the patient did not like that word. | Ms Richardson accused Mr Mellor of deliberately "winding up" the man named in the charges by saying "pyjamas" to him when he knew the patient did not like that word. |
| Mr Mellor said his dislike of the word "wasn't constant" and it would be appropriate to say "pyjamas" if the patient was being asked to put his pyjamas on. | Mr Mellor said his dislike of the word "wasn't constant" and it would be appropriate to say "pyjamas" if the patient was being asked to put his pyjamas on. |
| In the video Mr Mellor could be seen laughing after asking the man to put his pyjamas on, but he told jurors it was a "sincere" request to get the man ready for bed. | In the video Mr Mellor could be seen laughing after asking the man to put his pyjamas on, but he told jurors it was a "sincere" request to get the man ready for bed. |
| Mr Mellor said he accepted he laughed but "didn't laugh in [the patient's face]", adding: "I thought I was the joker". | Mr Mellor said he accepted he laughed but "didn't laugh in [the patient's face]", adding: "I thought I was the joker". |
| He also said he was wary of the man who would often attack staff and "didn't want to let anybody know" he was affected or "bothered", including the man as he felt the man would target him if he knew Mr Mellor was scared of him. | He also said he was wary of the man who would often attack staff and "didn't want to let anybody know" he was affected or "bothered", including the man as he felt the man would target him if he knew Mr Mellor was scared of him. |
| 'Sensationalise events' | 'Sensationalise events' |
| The court heard the man had a love of 1980s music but Mr Mellor "ill-treated" him by turning his music down. | The court heard the man had a love of 1980s music but Mr Mellor "ill-treated" him by turning his music down. |
| Mr Mellor said there were many times the man's music had to be turned down as it was too loud and could antagonise other patients. | Mr Mellor said there were many times the man's music had to be turned down as it was too loud and could antagonise other patients. |
| Ms Richardson read quotes in which Mr Mellor told colleagues how he was "creased" turning the man's music down, with the prosecutor saying he was being "cruel". | Ms Richardson read quotes in which Mr Mellor told colleagues how he was "creased" turning the man's music down, with the prosecutor saying he was being "cruel". |
| Mr Mellor said he "sensationalised simple events to be the centre of attention" when describing them to colleagues after they happened. | Mr Mellor said he "sensationalised simple events to be the centre of attention" when describing them to colleagues after they happened. |
| "Was it all just a huge joke to you?" Ms Richardson asked. | "Was it all just a huge joke to you?" Ms Richardson asked. |
| "No I don't think anyone on section was a huge joke," Mr Mellor said, adding: "I was just too immature at the time, too stupid. | "No I don't think anyone on section was a huge joke," Mr Mellor said, adding: "I was just too immature at the time, too stupid. |
| "These things I've said have never been reflected with the way I've actually interacted with patients." | "These things I've said have never been reflected with the way I've actually interacted with patients." |
| Ms Richardson said he knew what he was doing was "cruel, demeaning and deliberate". | Ms Richardson said he knew what he was doing was "cruel, demeaning and deliberate". |
| Mr Mellor said they were "just comments", adding: "Every time I worked with a patient I've been spot on". | Mr Mellor said they were "just comments", adding: "Every time I worked with a patient I've been spot on". |
| 'Think outside the box' | 'Think outside the box' |
| The seventh defendant, Darren Lawton, 47, said he started working as a carer at Whorlton Hall in April 2018 after 17 years in the army and various other jobs to "give something back" and "possibly benefit me as well as other people". | The seventh defendant, Darren Lawton, 47, said he started working as a carer at Whorlton Hall in April 2018 after 17 years in the army and various other jobs to "give something back" and "possibly benefit me as well as other people". |
| He said he "enjoyed" the job, which was "tough", but after a seven day course in which he learnt about health and safety and restraint techniques, he received "very little" further training. | He said he "enjoyed" the job, which was "tough", but after a seven day course in which he learnt about health and safety and restraint techniques, he received "very little" further training. |
| He said there was a "20-minute" session on learning difficulties but he felt "quite competent", spending 80% of his time being one of the four people who constantly had to monitor a man who could be violent and aggressive. | He said there was a "20-minute" session on learning difficulties but he felt "quite competent", spending 80% of his time being one of the four people who constantly had to monitor a man who could be violent and aggressive. |
| Under questioning from his lawyer Rebecca Brown, Mr Lawton, who faces two charges against two male patients, said he had a 40-hour a week contract but he would often work 50 hours and more a week. | Under questioning from his lawyer Rebecca Brown, Mr Lawton, who faces two charges against two male patients, said he had a 40-hour a week contract but he would often work 50 hours and more a week. |
| He said managers told staff to "think outside the box" when trying to calm patients down and stop situations escalating to the point where people had to be restrained. | He said managers told staff to "think outside the box" when trying to calm patients down and stop situations escalating to the point where people had to be restrained. |
| 'Wrestling move' | 'Wrestling move' |
| He said he felt "physically worn out" at the end of the 12-hour shifts but his "mind was still racing" into the early hours of the morning depriving him of sleep. | He said he felt "physically worn out" at the end of the 12-hour shifts but his "mind was still racing" into the early hours of the morning depriving him of sleep. |
| Mr Lawton's first charge relates to him "ill-treating" a patient by "simulating an assault" while the man was lying on the ground pretending to be in a restraint. | Mr Lawton's first charge relates to him "ill-treating" a patient by "simulating an assault" while the man was lying on the ground pretending to be in a restraint. |
| Footage showed Mr Lawton did not touch the man but made a move as if he were going to fall on him in what he called a "wrestling move". | Footage showed Mr Lawton did not touch the man but made a move as if he were going to fall on him in what he called a "wrestling move". |
| Mr Lawton said it was "banter" and the patient was laughing, adding the man would have "said something if he wasn't happy". | Mr Lawton said it was "banter" and the patient was laughing, adding the man would have "said something if he wasn't happy". |
| He said he did such moves with his children and making the gesture was the "first thing that pops into my head". | He said he did such moves with his children and making the gesture was the "first thing that pops into my head". |
| The second charge claims Mr Lawton "mocked" the man with whom he spent the majority of his time. | The second charge claims Mr Lawton "mocked" the man with whom he spent the majority of his time. |
| Mr Lawton said he had a "very good relationship" with the man, who could be extremely violent, adding: "I'd probably spent more time with [the man] than I had with my own family". | Mr Lawton said he had a "very good relationship" with the man, who could be extremely violent, adding: "I'd probably spent more time with [the man] than I had with my own family". |
| He said the man felt "comfortable" with him as a carer and Mr Lawton "to a degree felt comfortable" around the man. | He said the man felt "comfortable" with him as a carer and Mr Lawton "to a degree felt comfortable" around the man. |
| He said when the man first arrived he had to be permanently restrained, he would regularly attack staff, tear his clothes off or throw faeces, but over time the incident levels dropped and he settled. | |
| Mr Lawton said he "hoped" he had helped play a part in that, adding he never had to restrain the man as he would sit him down and talk to him, "treat him as a person rather than just a patient". | |
| He said he could spend a six-hour stint with the man and the man would have him laughing for the whole time. | |
| The court has heard Whorlton Hall had 17 bedrooms for people with extreme behavioural difficulties, many of whom were sectioned. | The court has heard Whorlton Hall had 17 bedrooms for people with extreme behavioural difficulties, many of whom were sectioned. |
| It closed in the wake of the Panorama documentary. | It closed in the wake of the Panorama documentary. |
| The nine accused face the following number of charges of ill treatment of a person in care: | The nine 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, 27, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle - 10 | Ryan Fuller, 27, 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 McGhee, 54, of Wildair Close, Darlington - two | Karen McGhee, 54, of Wildair Close, Darlington - two |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
| 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 |
| Barnard Castle | Barnard Castle |
| Whorlton | Whorlton |