Care home manager facing jail following attack on employee

A care home manager has admitted attacking one of his staff during a row in which racial and homophobic slurs were allegedly used.

Andrew Stern, registered provider at Catherine Miller House, in Old Leigh Lane, Leigh, admitted wounding with intent when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court this week.

Stern, 57, of Edgeware, North London, admitted assaulting carer Glen Daltrey, severing his little finger and giving him a head wound which needed 15 stitches.

Prosecutor Charlotte Davison told the court the dispute, on July 11, 2013, had spilled out of the care home into the street, with Stern chasing Mr Daltrey and hurling objects at him.

Stern readily admitted the attack to police, but claimed he had been provoked by Mr Daltrey’s use of racial and religious slurs about his Jewish heritage.

Miss Davison told the court: “One witness indicates she heard words being used by the victim but other witnesses do not.

“The victim is adamant he didn’t use any racial slurs and there may be some dispute as to the stage at which the defendant used homophobic words – whether this was before or afterwards.”

Judge Owen Davies QC adjourned the case pending preparation of pre-sentence reports.

He said: “On the face of it, this is an offence which attracts imprisonment.

“However, provocation in a very sensitive area is crucial.

“If the victim has been less than frank about what happened and there is some evidence which enables the judge to resolve the issue one way or another, then it deserves to be given the greatest weight.

“This is a man who has a responsible position in the community and this cannot be taken lightly.”

Stern freed on bail and ordered to return to the court on March 7 for sentencing.