11 Care Workers Sentenced Over Abuse

Six of the 11 care workers who admitted a total of 38 charges of neglect or abuse of patients at a private hospital have been jailed.

The five others have been given suspended sentences after BBC Panorama uncovered the acts of abuse.

32-year-old Wayne Rogers, described as the ringleader, admitted nine counts of ill-treating patients, and has been jailed for two years.

Judge Neil Ford QC said there was a "culture of cruelty" at the care home.

Judge Ford said no attempt was made to provide a caring environment and if the BBC had not uncovered the abuse, it would have continued.

He told the sentencing hearing the home had been "run with a scandalous lack of regard to patients and staff".

"What happened was a gross breach of trust," he said.

The 10 other defendants received:

• Alison Dove, 25, of Kingswood, was jailed for 20 months for seven counts of abuse;

• Graham Doyle, 26, of Patchway, was jailed for 20 months for seven counts of abuse;

• Nurse Sookalingum Appoo, 59, of Downend jailed for six months for wilfully neglecting patients;

• Nurse Kelvin Fore, 33, from Middlesbrough, also jailed for six months for wilfully neglecting patients;

• Holly Laura Draper, 24, of Mangotsfield, pleaded guilty to two charges of abuse and was jailed for 12 months;

• Daniel Brake, 27, of Downend, pleaded guilty to two charges of abuse and was given a six month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work;

• Charlotte Justine Cotterell, 22, from Yate, pleaded guilty to one charge of abuse and was given a four-month jail term suspended for two years. Cotterell was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and complete 12 months supervision;

• Michael Ezenagu, 29, from Shepherds Bush, west London, admitted two counts of abuse and was given a six month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work;

• Neil Ferguson, 28, of Emerson Green, admitted one count of abuse and was given a six month jail term was suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work;

• Jason Gardiner, 43, of Hartcliffe, who admitted two charges of abuse, was given a four month jail term was suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

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