Whorlton Hall: Four former staff walk free from court

Peter Bennett, Matthew Banner, Ryan Fuller, and John Sanderson were all found guilty after an undercover BBC reporter recorded them verbally abusing and antagonising residents at Whorlton Hall.

Durham Constabulary launched an investigation and the 17-bed hospital was closed, with 16 staff suspended and patients transferred, in the wake of the revelations being aired on television.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendants were caught on a hidden camera taunting and antagonising the vulnerable residents for their own enjoyment.

The four former staff members caught on secret recordings ill-treating residents at Whorlton Hall (Image: CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE)

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, read out a series of victim impact statements on behalf of the residents who were tormented by the defendants during the period of time the BBC reporter was working there in 2019.

She told the court it was impossible for the residents to express how much the defendants’ abuse had impacted on them due to the complex nature of their medical conditions.

The judge heard how family members had been left feeling guilty and let down by the suffering the victims had endured.

And medical professionals said they were unable to determine the long-term damage inflicted on the vulnerable patients as a result of their communication difficulties.

Peter Bennett arriving at a previous hearing (Image: The Northern Echo)

Bennett, of Redworth Road, Billingham, 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.

He was found guilty of two charges of ill-treatment relating to two female patients, on January 6 and February 24, 2019.

David Callan, representing the 54-year-old, said 'he has paid heavily' for his behaviour and is still taking medication as a result of his conviction.

Matthew Banner appearing at a previous hearing (Image: The Northern Echo)

Banner, formerly of Newton Aycliffe but now of no fixed abode, was involved in several incidents where he was caught on camera aggravating one of the vulnerable patients.

He was found guilty of five charges all relating to the same patient at Whorlton Hall on separate occasions between January 6 and February 22, 2019.

Stephen Constantine, representing the 44-year-old, said none of the offending was pre-planned and he had asked for a promotion in an effort to receive more training to better carry out his.

Ryan Fuller arriving at a previous hearing (Image: The Northern Echo)

Fuller, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle, was heard to call a 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’.” He was found guilty of two charges of ill-treatment or wilful neglect against patients January 19 and February 2, 2019.

Christopher Knox, representing the 28-year-old, said his client had been 'punched in the face and followed' as a result of the court case.

John Sanderson arriving at a previous hearing (Image: The Northern Echo)

Sanderson, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington, was said to have 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. He was found guilty of one charge of care worker ill-treatment or wilful neglect of an individual in February 2019.

Shaun Dryden, representing the 26-year-old, urged the judge to take into account his client's relative youth at the time of the incidents in 2019.

Judge Chris Smith told the defendants that their offending was aggravated by the fact the facility had to close down and the residents relocated as a result.

“Each of those patients frequently experienced high levels of distress and anxiety which could sometimes be overwhelming and left them feeling vulnerable and seriously harming themselves or other people,” he said.

“As such they required a level of specialist care which was not available in the community. Those in your care found the world to be an unpredictable and frightening place – they each suffered with high levels of anxiety.

“They needed predictability in their lives, they needed a calm and stable environment to live; they needed a caring approach from those who looked after them – each of you failed those patients and their families.”

Bennett was told his four-month sentence would be suspended for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work.

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Banner was given and identical sentence.

Fuller was told his three-month sentence would be suspended for 15 months and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

Sanderson was told his six-week sentence would be suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Five of their co-accused – Sarah Banner, Karen McGhee, Darren Lawton, Niall Mellor, and Sabah Mahmood – were cleared of all the charges they faced during the trial.