Whorlton Hall: Sentencing of former care workers delayed

Peter Bennett, Matthew Banner, Ryan Fuller and John Sanderson, were due to be sentenced today (Friday, July 7) after they were all convicted of a variety of charges following a lengthy trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Howard Crowson adjourned the case until the autumn during a short hearing this morning.

Five of their co-accused – Sarah Banner, Karen McGhee, Darren Lawton, Niall Mellor and Sabah Mahmood – were all cleared of all charges.

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They had been employed at Whorlton Hall, an independent specialist hospital unit in Barnard Castle, which accommodates adults with severe mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Peter Bennett (Image: The Northern Echo)

Some of the offending had been brought to light after being captured on camera by a reporter working for the BBC’s ‘Panorama’ programme, who posed undercover as a support worker at the hospital in late 2018 and early 2019.

The court heard how one female patient had been threatened with being assigned male carers against her expressed wishes, even when sufficient female staff were available.

Ryan Fuller (Image: The Northern Echo)

In other instances, patients were threatened with the removal of their personal belongings and were mocked for having communication difficulties. On some occasions, patients were even encouraged by staff members to fight them.

Matthew Banner (Image: The Northern Echo)

The BBC sent reporter Olivia Davies undercover to work at the unit, using a hidden camera to show the care offered by staff.

During the lengthy trial, jurors had heard how the patients, who were detained under the Mental Health Act and required 24-hour care, were distressed as they were verbally abused, mocked, and wound up by some of the staff at the hospital.

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Fuller, 26, of Deerbolt Bank, Barnard Castle, was guilty of two counts of ill-treatment of a person in care.

Sanderson, 25, of Cambridge Avenue, Willington, was found guilty of one count of ill-treatment of a person in care.

John Sanderson (Image: The Northern Echo)

Bennett, 52, of Redworth Road, Billingham, was found guilty of two counts of ill-treatment of a person in care.

Banner, from Faulkner Road, Newton Aycliffe was found guilty of five counts of ill-treatment of a person in care.

All four will now appear at court on October 20 to be sentenced.