http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/4367587.stm

      Carers jailed in home abuse probe
      Seven care home workers have been jailed for their part in abuse and
neglect of adults at a Hull care home.
      The five women and two men, who worked at Bedes View residential home,
were all given sentences of between three and 12 months each.

      Hull Crown Court heard how their eight victims - all mentally and
physically disabled - were bullied, slapped, kicked and humiliated at the
home.

      Judge Roger Thorn, QC, said a dreadful picture had emerged.

      'Caring profession'

      "We have heard of persistant abuse, including bullying, punishments,
loss of temper, revenge behaviour, kicking, slapping, nipping, hair tugging
and other assaults," he said.

      He added such behaviour would not be tolerated by the courts.

      "Cases such as this cause a terrible under-mining of the public's
confidence in a caring profession which acts for the most part in a position
of enormous trust and mainly behind closed doors."

      The judge heard several victims had serious disabilities such as
epliepsy, blindness, some degree of paralysis or autism.

      None had the power of speech or the capacity to complain.

      Abused trust

      Six care workers were found guilty of charges of ill treatment and
neglect in a care home after a trial lasting six weeks.

      Janice Fenn, 34, and John Hewitt, 27 and Jacqueline Hewitt, 29, were
jailed for 12 months.



      Dawn Tuttle, 36, was jailed for eight months, Frances Collins, 28, for
nine months and Jennifer Lennon, 27, for three months.

      All six are from Hull.

      Another carer, Geoffrey Gill, 61, of Skirlaugh, pleaded guilty to four
counts of ill-treatment and was jailed for ten months.

      The victims and their families have been supported through the case by
the mental health charity Mencap.

      Speaking after the hearing on Monday, chief executive Jo Williams
said: "I think for the individuals concerned and their families it is a very
distressing time.

      "The people concerned have been placed in a position of trust and they
have abused that trust.

      "The pain and the humiliation they have caused cannot be under
estimated."




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