Six cleared over '˜neglect' at Bradford care home but two still face charges

The three men and three women went on trial alongside two other defendants last month accused of “systematic, deliberate neglect” in relation to the treatment of 79-year-old Edward Hinnells while he was at the Highdell care home in Idle, Bradford.

Judge Colin Burn told the jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday that there had been “long and protracted discussions and arguments” between himself and counsel in the case and the result was that he was going to direct them to return not guilty verdicts in respect of six of the eight defendants.

Judge Burn said he did not want to say any more at this stage about the specific reasons for direction and the jury would have to take it from him that there were “very good legal reasons” for reaching that conclusion.

The jury foreman was formally asked to return not guilty verdicts in respect of senior care assistant Jennifer Cross, 60, from Idle, 30-year-old carer Nicki Kassama, from Shipley, senior carer Valerie James, 58, from Eccleshill, Bradford and 59-year-old Desmond Crowley, a staff nurse and registered mental health nurse from Daisy Hill, Bradford.

Not guilty verdicts were also returned in respect of registered mental health nurse Gerard McDermott, 58, from Ilkley, and 49-year-old cleaner Piotr Czajkowski, from Ravenscliffe, Bradford.

Judge Burn then confirmed that all six defendants could be discharged.

The trial is continuing against care home manager Stephen Pelkowski, 51, from Addingham and 57-year-old Phillippa Robinson, a senior nurse and registered mental health nurse from Shipley.

At the start of the trial last month prosecutor Stephen Wood alleged that Mr Hinnells had been living in “abject squalor and filth”.