A CARER ill-treated and was repeatedly abusive to elderly residents, many of whom had learning disabilities, a court was told.

As a care support worker at Ridgeway Care Centre, in Station Town, near Peterlee, east Durham, Vikki Unsworth had to deal with residents with little or no mental capacity and varying degrees of physical disability.

But Durham Crown Court was told that in March last year she was suspended from her duties following allegations she had been physically and verbally abusive to some residents. It stemmed from co-workers making complaints about her behaviour to residents’ relatives.

Ann Richardson, prosecuting, said that in one case, an elderly resident was effectively on her death bed and a relative had asked for her to be watched round the clock.

Miss Richardson said a colleague reported that, as time went on, Unsworth was said to have told the woman: “Hurry up and die you old ****, cos I’m not sitting all night with you.”

She was later accused of saying to the woman, “not to be so stupid, as it was just like going to f****** sleep”.

Her colleague was said to be shocked at what she heard.

A decision was taken to call the resident’s daughter to attend and Unsworth left the room.

“Sadly, the lady died the following day,” Miss Richardson told the court.

Other examples of her behaviour outlined to the court included her mocking the facial movements of a resident, telling her she smelled like- Seaham Harbour, and pushing her hands away when she put them up seeking a kiss.

She attempted to change an incontinence pad on a resident pulling her legs up and putting her ankles above her head, like a baby, which was, “totally against staff training”.

Unsworth was also said to have taught one resident to mimic her own abusive comments, and pulled the ears of an autistic elderly man, calling him “Mr Potato Head”.

Miss Richardson said Unsworth was arrested last May and denied the allegations, telling police she loved her job, but calling one of her colleagues “a liar and trouble maker”.

She conceded she may have used bad language at times in front of residents, but claimed everyone did at the home.

Miss Richardson said the evidence points to, “so much more than someone who is a crass, somewhat inept, foulmouthed carer”.

Unsworth, 39, of Cummings Square, Wingate, east Durham, denies nine counts of ill treating or wilfully neglecting a person in her care.

The trial continues.