CO-WORKERS blew the whistle on two carers accused of mistreating four men with severe disabilities.

Shaunna Hughes and Peter Crofts are alleged to have mistreated the patients a number of times at a care home in Harwich.

Giving evidence during a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Frances Beard who is an operational support manager at the company which runs the home, said two other workers had made written statements with allegations of mistreatment.

She said: “I was made aware of the issues on September 12.

“On the morning I was asked to see them because they had brought in written statements about things they had witnessed.

“I made sure the service users they were discussing were safe in their home and the two members of staff had named in their statements were not on duty.”

Ms Beard, who did not witness any alleged mistreatment herself, said Crofts, 65, was a senior member of staff.

She said: “Peter Crofts has worked in our organisation for a number of years.

“He would have taken all relevant training and thereafter all relevant update training including positive behaviour support, safeguarding and health and safety.

“Shaunna Hughes had worked there for 12 months.

“Peter Crofts was in a senior support role and responsible for running a shift.”

“They were all part of a team but Peter had a senior role within the team.”

Hughes, 25, is said to have shouted abuse at one of her patients and also incorrectly kept an outside door open so she could smoke knowing a patient with pneumonia could be affected.

She is also accused of throwing a pen at a patient to get their attention.

Crofts is alleged to have slammed a patient’s hand down on the table causing injury, kicked a patient under the table, forced his knuckles into someone’s neck and pushed someone in a wheelchair too forcefully.

Hughes, of King George’s Avenue, Dovercourt, denies three counts of wilfully neglecting or ill-treating patients while Croft, of Ramsey Road, Dovercourt denies for counts of the same charge.

The trial continues.