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Whorlton Hall: Four guilty of ill-treating secure unit patients Whorlton Hall: Four guilty of ill-treating secure unit patients
(32 minutes later)
Whorlton Hall in County Durham has closed since the 2019 Panorama documentaryWhorlton Hall in County Durham has closed since the 2019 Panorama documentary
Four carers have been found guilty of ill-treating patients at a secure hospital, following a BBC Panorama investigation.Four carers have been found guilty of ill-treating patients at a secure hospital, following a BBC Panorama investigation.
Nine former staff at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, had faced a total of 27 charges. Five of those on trial have been cleared.Nine former staff at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, had faced a total of 27 charges. Five of those on trial have been cleared.
Prosecutors said defendants showed "contempt" for and mocked patients. Prosecutors said the defendants showed "contempt" for and mocked patients.
Lawyers for the defendants had argued they had been doing their best in challenging circumstances. Lawyers for the defendants had argued they had been doing their best in very challenging circumstances.
Those found guilty will be sentenced in July. Those found guilty will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court in July.
The specialist hospital for people with complex needs was privately run but funded by the NHS. The specialist hospital for people with complex needs, who required 24-hour-care, was privately run but funded by the NHS.
The BBC sent undercover reporter Olivia Davies to work at the unit for a Panorama documentary in 2019. Whorlton Hall has since closed.The BBC sent undercover reporter Olivia Davies to work at the unit for a Panorama documentary in 2019. Whorlton Hall has since closed.
Jurors at Teesside Crown Court delivered the mixed verdicts after two days of deliberation. Jurors delivered the mixed verdicts after two days of deliberation.
The nine accused faced the following number of charges of ill treatment of a person in care: Peter Bennett, 53, of Redworth Close in Billingham was found guilty of two charges and cleared of one.
John Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington - two Matthew Banner, 43, of Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe, was found guilty on five counts and cleared of one.
Darren Lawton, 47, of Miners Crescent, Darlington - two Ryan Fuller, 27, of Deerbolt Bank in Barnard Castle was found guilty of two counts but cleared of eight.
Niall Mellor, 26, of Lingmell Dene, Coundon, Bishop Auckland - two John Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue in Willington was found guilty of one but cleared of another.
Sara Banner, 33, of Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe - three Karen McGhee, Darren Lawton, Sabah Mahmood, Niall Mellor and Sara Banner were cleared of all charges against them.
Matthew Banner, 43, of the same address - six
Ryan Fuller, 27, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle - 10
Sabah Mahmood, 27, of Woodland Crescent, Kelloe - one
Peter Bennett, 53, of Redworth Road, Billingham - three
Karen McGhee, 54, of Wildair Close, Darlington - two
Bennett was found guilty of two charges and cleared of one while Matthew Banner was found guilty on five counts and cleared of one.
Fuller was found guilty of two counts but cleared of eight and Sanderson was found guilty of one but cleared of another.
Ms McGhee, Mr Lawton, Ms Mahmood, Mr Mellor and Sara Banner were found not guilty of all charges against them.
Some of the defendants wept loudly as the verdicts were read out.Some of the defendants wept loudly as the verdicts were read out.
'Goading''Goading'
Bennett was convicted for "deliberately referencing and snapping balloons" in the presence of a female patient who did not like them and "mocking" another's communication difficulties by talking to her in French.Bennett was convicted for "deliberately referencing and snapping balloons" in the presence of a female patient who did not like them and "mocking" another's communication difficulties by talking to her in French.
Matthew Banner was guilty of ill-treating the same patient, who preferred female carers, by "threatening" that men would be sent to her room and making repeated references to balloons.Matthew Banner was guilty of ill-treating the same patient, who preferred female carers, by "threatening" that men would be sent to her room and making repeated references to balloons.
Sanderson was found guilty of threatening a male patient with violence and "goading him to fight".Sanderson was found guilty of threatening a male patient with violence and "goading him to fight".
Fuller was guilty of instructing another male patient to lie on the floor to demonstrate a restraint and then simulating an assault on him by pretending to perform an "elbow drop" wrestling move from a chair.Fuller was guilty of instructing another male patient to lie on the floor to demonstrate a restraint and then simulating an assault on him by pretending to perform an "elbow drop" wrestling move from a chair.
He was also found guilty of "antagonising" another male patient and "encouraging" him to fight.He was also found guilty of "antagonising" another male patient and "encouraging" him to fight.
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.
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