A SENIOR carer who laughed while he abused two vulnerable adults with severe learning disabilities has been jailed for eight months.

Peter Crofts, 66, was accused of slapping a resident on the arm with a wooden spoon when he fell asleep, slamming a plastic beaker onto a man’s hand and kicking someone under the table during a four-month period of abuse.

Sentencing Crofts at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Seely said he had no option but to send him to prison.

He said: “The ill-treatment caused real distress to your victims and the evidence I heard and I accept said you enjoyed that distress.

“Your laughter in such circumstances is particularly concerning.

“It was a job you freely chose to do – it is one you said you loved.

“Your victims were some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

“There is only one person responsible for these proceedings and it is you – you must face the consequences of your actions.”

Judge Seely praised whistleblowers who reported Crofts’ behaviour which occurred in 2016 for their courage Crofts, who was working at a care home in the Harwich area, had denied the claims but was found guilty of two charges of ill-treatment of a person who lacks capacity and acquitted of two further counts.

Barry Gilbert, mitigating, said: “He has never been in trouble in his life before and was doing a difficult job and was not being well paid.

“You can understand the dread he was feeling at the prospect of going to prison.

“He will no longer be able to pursue his chosen profession again, he has lost his good character and is desperately frightened of going to prison.

“With all the circumstances, no-one is going to think worse of the court if his sentence is suspended.

“He went into it because he wanted to look after people.

“I do not think there was any suggestion he was getting enjoyment out of it.”

Crofts, of Ramsey Road, Dovercourt, has been barred from working in care.

Another carer – Shaunna Hughes – faced three charges of ill-treatment but was acquitted by a jury.