Defendants in care neglect case acquitted

The defendants, who worked for Bridlington-based Burlington Care, had been due to stand trial at Teesside Crown Court

Eight people from an East Yorkshire care provider at the centre of neglect claims have been acquitted.

The defendants, who worked for Bridlington-based Burlington Care, had been due to stand trial at Teesside Crown Court.

But at a hearing on Wednesday, the case was dismissed after the prosecution failed to offer any evidence against them.

All eight had denied the charges.

Chief executive Richard Hoggart was one of four people charged with failure to discharge a duty.

The firm's director, Andrew Hoggart, area manager Lisa Harding and service manager Julie Kirk had also been charged with failure to discharge a duty.

Nurses or carers Kathleen Whatling, Allison Rollins, Claire Mawer and Jacquelin Jackman had all been charged with wilful neglect.

The allegations related to the deaths of five residents at homes in the region in 2016 and 2017.

On Wednesday, prosecutors asked for the case to be adjourned for its disclosure process to be reviewed and "assessed as safe and complete".

However, Judge Jonathan Carroll refused the application.

In his ruling, he said: "The only reason advanced for the adjournment amounts to a concession from the prosecution that it is simply not trial ready.

"This leaves the crown in a position where it does not currently have any case against these defendants."

He added that prosecution had also failed to offer an "adequate reason" for its "fundamental failure" of compliance with its disclosure obligations.

Burlington Care ran several care homes across Yorkshire, including in Hull and Bridlington.

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