A group of former support workers have denied abusing people with autism and learning disabilities.
The nine support workers were secretly filmed at Whorlton Hall, in County Durham, for a BBC Panorama documentary.
Footage appeared to show them taunting and restraining vulnerable adults.
Support workers charged
The support workers were charged with ill treatment or wilful neglect.
The workers appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.
Their appearance in court came after a lengthy investigation by Durham police following the 2019 documentary.
Those accused are Ryan Fuller, 26, from Startforth, Sabah Mahmood, 26, from Kelloe, Peter Bennett, 52, from Darlington, Karen McGee, 53, from Darlington, John Sanderson, 24, from Willington, Darren Lawton, 46, from Darlington, Niall Mellor, 24, from Bishop Auckland, Sara Banner, 31, from Newton Aycliffe and Matthew Banner, 41, from Newton Aycliffe.
Form of entertainment
The court was told the former staff had mocked and provoked the patients and treated them as a form of entertainment.
Though privately run, the hospital was funded through the NHS. The facility, which was owned by Cygnet Health Care, has since closed.
At the time the programme was broadcast Cygnet said it took the allegations “extremely seriously” and was “deeply saddened”.
The group suspended all the staff said to be involved.
Criticism of Care Quality Commission
A year after the programme was broadcast the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was criticised in a review by psychologist Professor Glynis Murphy over its inspections of Whorlton Hall.
Murphy also said levels of restraint at Whorlton Hall were “sometimes very high”.
The staff were granted unconditional bail. They are set to appear before Durham Crown Court on 7 December.
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Published: 20 November 2021
