A PENSIONER with Alzheimer's disease was slapped in the face by a care home manager after he lashed out at another member of staff, a court heard.

Valerie Ann Davies went to the aid of staff who were struggling to bathe a "flustered and upset"

William Gordon McCombie.

Davies, 62, the manager of Bishopsgate Care Home, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, went to reprimand the 83-yearold on September 29 last year.

A trial was told that Davies was punched in the face by Mr McCombie, but ruled his actions were unintentional and brought on by his condition.

Davies, who then slapped Mr McCombie, was said to have been reckless in her actions and was found guilty of common assault, on May 2.

Yesterday, Davies, of Hall Lane Estate, Crook, County Durham, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court for sentencing.

Clive Booth, mitigating, said that Mr McCombie had not suffered an injury apart from a reddening of his cheek.

He said: "It was a momentary act, it was a slap."

Mr Booth said four character witnesses had spoken highly of Davies and that 12 written references spoke of her in equally "glowing terms".

He said that Davies had lost her good character and her lifelong profession.

Chairwoman of the bench, Lynette Harrison, said Mr McCombie was a vulnerable man and that Davies had breached her position of trust. She was given a community order with 40 hours' unpaid work and ordered to pay Mr McCombie £50 compensation, and £300 court costs.

It is thought Davies is on sick leave as Southern Cross, which owns Bishopsgate, continue an internal investigation into the incident.

Speaking after the hearing, a spokeswoman for Southern Cross said: "The health and safety of our residents is our main priority and this isolated matter was brought to our attention by our stringent whistle-blowing policy.

"We immediately reported it to the police and the authorities."