10 charged with care home abuse

Ten staff at a care home at the centre of a BBC Panorama investigation into allegations of abuse of vulnerable patients were today charged with a string of offences, police said.

They will appear in court next month in Bristol to face allegations of ill treatment and neglect of patients at Winterbourne View care home in Hambrook, south Gloucestershire.

The private hospital was closed by its owners after the BBC current affairs programme broadcast in May undercover footage which appeared to show vulnerable residents being pinned down, slapped, doused in water and taunted.

Avon and Somerset Police said 10 people had been charged with ill treatment and neglect offences under the Mental Health Act.

They are: Wayne Rogers, 30, Graham Doyle, 25, Allison Dove, 24, Jason Gardiner, 42, Charlotte Cotterell, 21, Holly Draper, 22, Michael Ezenagu, 28, Kelvin Fore, 32, Sookalingun Appoo, 58, and Danny Brake, 26.

They face a total of 40 charges against four victims, the force said.

Three men aged 25, 27 and 41, who have also been arrested on suspicion of causing ill treatment, remain on police bail pending further inquiries.

A 14th person - a 40-year-old man - who was arrested on suspicion of common assault has been released without charge, a police spokesman said.

The defendants are due to face Bristol Magistrates' Court on December 15.

Since the allegations were first aired, the hospital's owner Castlebeck has closed Winterbourne View and two other residential homes following concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

PA