Care worker sprayed water in pensioner's face

Gary Walker also threw a wet flannel in the face of one of the men and turned the pressure mattress off in the room of another on three occasions.The incidents happened at Horse Fair Care Home in Rugeley.

Walker, 31, of Shaftesbury Road, Rugeley, pleaded guilty to one count of wilfully neglecting a person without capacity and two additional counts of wilfully neglecting an individual at Cannock Magistrates Court. Avery Healthcare, which runs the home, dismissed Walker, acting 'immediately and with due diligence', according to a company spokesman. He will be sentenced at Cannock Magistrates' Court on July 15.

The court heard how Walker placed a shower head in the face of an 81-year-old woman in order to get her to lift her head, with the shock of the spraying water making her fall backwards onto the floor. On another occasion, he threw a wet flannel onto the face of an 82-year-old man, before rubbing it roughly into his face. On the final occasion, Walker turned the pressure mat off in the room of an 88-year-old man three times.

Prosecutor Ms Karen Walton said: "In the case of the 81-year-old woman, you said to the other carer, who was trying to wash her 'I know a trick to make her lift her head up' and sprayed water in the woman's face. When the other carer said 'Stop, that's cruel' you did it again, causing the elderly lady to lift up her legs and fall backwards. On the occasion relating to the 82-year-old man, you threw the flannel on to his face, and roughly rubbed it around. The other carer who was with you describes how it made the elderly gentleman 'writhe from side to side'."

Former manager Lynn Bradbury, 50, of Fieldhouse Road, Hednesford, and colleague Katie Mottram, 28, of Crabtree Way, Rugeley, also appeared at the court hearing. Bradbury, who was charged with eight counts of wilfully neglecting an individual, and Mottram who was charged with seven counts of wilfully neglecting an individual, pleaded not guilty.

Their case was transferred to Stafford Crown court for trial on July 25.

Speaking after the case, Mark Danis, spokesman for Avery Healthcare Group, said: "Avery Healthcare dismissed three members of staff from its Horsefair Care Home in Rugeley for alleged poor care and treatment of a small number of residents.

Avery suspended the three staff members from all duties, informed the police and a full investigation was carried out."