10 face court over Winterbourne View care home abuse

Ten staff at a Gloucestershire care home at the centre of a BBC Panorama investigation are due to appear in court accused of a string of offences against vulnerable patients.

They are facing magistrates in Yate to face allegations of ill-treatment and neglect of patients at the Winterbourne View care home in Hambrook, south Gloucestershire.

The private hospital was closed by its owners after the BBC current affairs programme broadcast in May undercover footage of the apparent misconduct, which appeared to show vulnerable residents being pinned down, slapped, doused in water and taunted.

The 10 have been charged with ill-treatment and neglect offences under the Mental Health Act.

They are Wayne Rogers, 30, Graham Doyle, 25, Allison Dove, 24, Jason Gardiner, 42, Charlotte Cotterell, 21, Holly Draper, 22, Michael Ezenagu, 28, Kelvin Fore, 32, Sookalingun Appoo, 58, and Danny Brake, 26.

They face a total of 40 charges against four victims, the force said.

Three men aged 25, 27 and 41, who have also been arrested on suspicion of causing ill-treatment, remain on police bail pending further inquiries.

A 14th person – a 40-year-old man – who was arrested on suspicion of common assault has been released without charge, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said.

Since the allegations were first aired, the hospital’s owner Castlebeck has closed Winterbourne View and two other residential homes following concerns by the Care Quality Commission.