Four former staff members at a Durham hospital for vulnerable people have been found guilty of the ill treatment of vulnerable patients in their care.
Matthew Banner, 43, of Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe, was convicted on five charges of ill-treatment of a person in care, Peter Bennett, 52, of Redworth Road, Billingham, and Ryan Fuller, 26, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle, were each convicted of two charges, and John Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington, was convicted of one count following a trial at Teesside Crown Court. Five other defendants were found not guilty.
The men had been employed as carers at Whorlton Hall, an independent specialist hospital unit in Barnard Castle, which accommodates adults with severe mental health issues and learning disabilities. All four are due to return to court for sentencing on July 7.
