Care worker 'spat in OAP's face', court hears

A care home worker spat in the face of an elderly resident saying, "she'll learn now, she'll never spit at me again," a prosecutor has told a jury.

Hope Young, 18, is accused of ill-treating Margaret Castleton at the Green View House care home, in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, as well as a number of other people in her care.

Young went on trial at Leeds Crown Court today along with two of her former colleagues at the home for elderly men and women, many of whom had dementia problems.

The jury was told how she is alleged to have spat at Mrs Castleton, who was in her 80s, after the resident wiped saliva onto her.

Prosecutor Hilary Manley admitted this would not have been pleasant for the defendant but she said her reaction was to spit back at the elderly woman, who had a number of medical problems.

Ms Manley said another defendant, Mark Senior, was spotted putting his hand up resident Rosie Pearson's skirt and suggesting they go away together.

The prosecutor said Senior referred to Mrs Pearson, who was born in 1923, as "my little piece of meat".

Ms Manley said this left the elderly woman, who suffered from dementia, "embarrassed and confused".

She said that some of Senior's behaviour with the residents could be described as "harmless horseplay" if it was between two children or even mentally competent adults.

But, she told the jury, the alleged victims were all mentally impaired in one way or another.

Senior, 28, of Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, denies 10 counts of ill-treating or neglecting persons who lack mental capacity.

Young, of Pennine View, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, denies eight similar charges.

The third defendant, Louise Dent, 24, of Greenlea Court, Dalton, Huddersfield, denies one count of the same charge.

The court heard this refers to an incident when she was helping a resident called Gwyneth Fowler, who nipped her.

The jury was told Dent pushed Mrs Fowler and "struck her in the shoulder area".

Ms Manley said Dent told a colleague: "She shouldn't have nipped me."

The home has now closed, the court heard.

The alleged incidents took place in 2010 and 2011.