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Nurse accused of abusing patients
Caine: "Abusive and threatening" |
A nurse bullied hospital patients with learning difficulties over a four year period, a court heard.
Ian Robert Caine, 48, denies five charges under the Mental Health Act of ill-treating male patients.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred on the Ash Ward of Rotherham District General Hospital's Beechcroft Unit between June 1991 and September 1995.
The court heard that the situation became worse for the patients after Caine went on a course to learn control and restraint techniques.
Andrew Kershaw, prosecuting at Sheffield Crown Court, said the five patients suffered a variety of mental health problems and were long-term residents on the ward.
Atmosphere of 'fear and intimidation'
"The accused used physical control and restraint as routine punishment for difficult behaviour and on occasions as cruel revenge when he lost his temper," he said.
Mr Kershaw said Caine's conduct caused an atmosphere of "fear and intimidation".
An inquiry into his behaviour was eventually launched after colleagues made complaints about his "abusive and threatening manner towards the patients".
Mr Kershaw told the court nursing assistant Margaret Medlock said the patient who suffered most at Caine's hands was Dean Walker, a 45-year-old with severe learning difficulties.
"He was verbally abused every day and physically abused two or three times a week. He was placed in wrist and arm locks and had pressure points used on his body.
"He would be thrown to the floor by his arms and clothing as a matter of course. On dozens of occasions Mrs Medlock saw Caine take hold of Dean and throw him through swing doors and on to his bed," said Mr Kershaw.
Taunting patients
He told the jury that staff said another patient, Paul Blake, a 25-year-old with severe mental retardation, who could not distinguish between hot and cold, would cower when Caine came near.
One nursing assistant said Mr Blake's lips were blistered after Caine, of Gresham Avenue, Brinsworth, deliberately gave him a hot drink, said Mr Kershaw.
A third patient, Maurice Lowson, 46, had an obsession and would become very distressed if he spotted anybody else with books.
Mr Kershaw told the court that Mrs Medlock said Caine deliberately sat next to him with a pile of books.
A fourth patient, Martin Brown, 44, was often put in wrist locks to make him sit down and eat his dinner - and on one occasion was dragged into his bedroom by the ear after messing about at the dinner table, the court heard.
Staff said the fifth patient, James Muscroft, 37, could be non-co-operative but instead of talking to him Caine would use wrist locks on him as a matter of course, said Mr Kershaw.
The case continues.
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Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust |
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