Whorlton Hall: BBC reporter exposed 'cruel and abusive' acts

Nine former members of staff at a privately-run hospital were accused of launching a campaign of bullying and harassment against a number of patients.

Six men and three women, who worked at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, were caught on camera abusing their positions when an undercover BBC reporter secured a job at the unit.

The footage was used in a Panorama documentary exposing the alleged psychological abuse of vulnerable patients with learning disabilities or autism.

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Teesside Crown Court heard how several vulnerable patients were targeted by the accused and they were tormented or verbally abused.

Whorlton Hall near Barnard Castle

The defendants face a total of 27 offences after the reporter used a hidden camera at the 17-bed independent unit for people with complex needs in January and February 2019.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said: “The Crown does not suggest that the defendants were ill-treating all of the residents all of the time, and as I have already said, caring for those within Whorlton Hall was not an easy job.

“Nonetheless, you will hear from witnesses, in conjunction with the BBC footage, that at times the defendants’ attitude and care to certain residents was cruel and abusive.”

The BBC sent reporter Olivia Davies undercover to work at the unit, using a hidden camera to show the care offered by staff.

One defendant said on camera he had invented an imaginary “man button” to summon male staff for a female patient who had clearly said she did not want men to look after her.

Peter Bennett (Image: The Northern Echo)

It is alleged that Peter Bennett, 53, showed off to colleagues and used the threat of the “man button” to wind up the patient and to make her comply.

He was also alleged to have said he would issue staff with balloons, as he knew the patient did not like them.

Niall Mellor (Image: The Northern Echo)

Niall Mellor, 26, was heard to call the same patient “a retard” and said that residents did not need good treatment, jurors were told.

Miss Richardson said Ryan Fuller, 27, was heard to call a different resident a “bitch”, and when he heard of more patients coming to the unit, he spoke of “how much fun he would have with them, and said ‘more abuse’.”

John Sanderson (Image: The Northern Echo)

John Sanderson, 25, said he had repeatedly unplugged a patient’s phone while the resident was speaking to his sister, resulting in the patient becoming so agitated he smashed up the phone.

Sabah Mahmood (Image: The Northern Echo)

Sabah Mahmood, 27, was said to have told a resident that her family were “f****** poison”, despite knowing the patient blamed herself for the death of a relative.

Staff nurse Karen McGhee, 54, was alleged not to have protected a patient from ill-treatment during a period of restraint by other care workers.

Karen McGhee (Image: The Northern Echo)

The case follows a long-running investigation by Durham police, Operation Sarto, after allegations of the abuse of patients was reported in a BBC Panorama documentary in 2019.

The facility, which has since closed, was privately-run but funded by the NHS.

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The accused are:

• John Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington, who faces two charges of ill-treatment of a person in care;

Darren Lawton (Image: The Northern Echo)

• Darren Mark Lawton, 47, of Miners Crescent, Darlington, who faces two counts of ill-treatment of a person in care;

• Niall Mellor, 26, of Lingmell Dene, Coundon, Bishop Auckland, is accused of two counts of ill-treatment of a patient;

Sarah Banner (Image: The Northern Echo)

• Sarah Banner, 33, from Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe, is accused of three counts of ill-treatment of a patient;

• her husband Matthew Banner, 43, of the same address, is charged with six counts of ill-treatment of a patient;

Matthew Banner (Image: The Northern Echo)

• Ryan Fuller, 26, from of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle, faces ten charges of ill-treatment of a patient; • Sabah Mahmood, 27, of Woodland Crescent, Kelloe, is charged with one count of ill-treatment of a patient;

Ryan Fuller (Image: The Northern Echo)

• Peter Bennett, 52, of Redworth Road, Billingham, faces three counts of ill-treatment of a patient;

• Karen McGhee, 54, from Wildair Close, Darlington, faces two counts of ill-treatment of a patient and one of wilful neglect.

The trial continues.