Support worker denies assault (From The Northern Echo)

Support worker denies assault

8:00am Friday 17th February 2012 in News By Bruce Unwin, Chief Reporter (Durham)

A SUPPORT worker is alleged to have taken advantage of his role assisting vulnerable adults, indecently assaulting two female clients.

Ronald Crangle is accused of targeting women recovering from alcoholism, allowing them to drink before indecently touching them on home visits.

Durham Crown Court was told he worked for the housing group Stonham, supporting people with various difficulties, including those attempting to overcome addiction.

The court heard that as a project worker he often made unaccompanied visits to see clients at their homes in County Durham.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, told the court: “They are supposed to have nothing more than a professional relationship with them, assisting a client with housing, managing bills, accessing outside help, and referring them to other agencies for debt problems or organising doctors and dental appointments.

“Most clients were badly damaged individuals, many with alcohol and drug problems, sometimes from difficult backgrounds.”

Mr Bennett said project managers are supposed to only make pre-arranged visits as part of clients’ support plans, with cold calling strictly forbidden, only exceptionally to be authorised by a manager.

“If a client drank alcohol the project worker was supposed to discourage them from drinking and not to remain there.”

But, referring to the defendant, Mr Bennett said: “He went well beyond what was professional and was not really bothered in following these ground rules set down for project workers.”

When he was arrested, Mr Crangle denied all the allegations claiming he behaved at all times in a professional manner.

Mr Bennett said to the jury: “Was he behaving professionally throughout as he suggested to police, or are these two women coming along and telling a pack of lies?”

One of the two women he is alleged to have indecently touched told the hearing that Mr Crangle would come to her house straight from Asda with cans of lager in his brief case.

Under cross-examination, she denied a suggestion put to her by defence barrister Julie Clemitson that she only complained about her project worker’s actions as Stonham had withdrawn its service to her.

She also told the court she did not know the other woman who had complained about his behaviour on home visits.

Mr Crangle, 64, of Kielder, in Oxclose, Washington, Wearside, denies four counts of sexual assault.

The trial continues.