Carer spat in face of elderly resident, court told

Hope Young, 18, is accused of ill-treating Margaret Castleton at the Green View House care home, in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, as well as a number of other people in her care.

Young went on trial at Leeds Crown Court yesterday along with two of her former colleagues at the home for elderly men and women, many of whom had dementia problems. The jury was told how she is alleged to have spat at Mrs Castleton, who was in her 80s, after the resident wiped saliva onto her.

Prosecutor Hilary Manley admitted this would not have been pleasant for the defendant but she said her reaction was to spit back at the elderly woman, who had a number of medical problems. Ms Manley said another defendant, Mark Senior, was spotted putting his hand up resident Rosie Pearson’s skirt and suggesting they go away together.

The prosecutor said Senior referred to Mrs Pearson, who was born in 1923, as “my little piece of meat”. Ms Manley said this left the elderly woman, who suffered from dementia, “embarrassed and confused”.

Senior, 28, of Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, denies 10 counts of ill-treating or neglecting persons who lack mental capacity. Young, of Pennine View, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, denies eight similar charges.

The third defendant, Louise Dent, 24, of Greenlea Court, Dalton, Huddersfield, denies one count of the same charge. The court heard this refers to an incident when she was helping a resident called Gwyneth Fowler, who nipped her.

The jury was told Dent pushed Mrs Fowler and “struck her in the shoulder area”.

Ms Manley said Dent told a colleague: “She shouldn’t have nipped me.”

The home has now closed, the court heard. The alleged incidents took place in 2010 and 2011. Ms Manley told the court how other alleged incidents included Senior bouncing a soft football off residents and elbowing one in the ribs.

She said when a resident allegedly spat at Young, the care worker threw her through a doorway after grabbing her by the neck.

The prosecutor said most residents had problems including blindness, deafness and dementia.

She told the court: “The work must indeed have been difficult, draining and demanding but, nevertheless, each of these residents deserved to treated with dignity and care at all times.”

She admitted each of the defendants was “quite possibly out of their depth and perhaps inadequately trained”.

The trial continues today.