Devon care homes staff 'imprisoned disabled adults'

The boss and four staff at the Vielstone, above, in Bideford, and Gatooma, in Holsworthy are accused of a string of offences against seven residents

Staff at two care homes "imprisoned" disabled adults in empty rooms to punish or control them, a court heard.

Vulnerable residents at two care homes in Devon were left alone for hours with little food or water by "arrogant" managers, Bristol Crown Court was told.

The boss and four staff at the Vielstone, in Bideford, and Gatooma, in Holsworthy are accused of a string of offences against seven residents.

It was "organised and systematic abuse," said prosecutor Andrew Langdon.

'Confined overnight'

Paul Hewitt, 70, managing director of Atlas Project Team Ltd, and employees Lee Farrant, 30, James Lawson, 41, Julie Barlow, 51, and Aaron Jones, 33, all of Devon, deny the charges.

Mr Langdon told the court residents were left in rooms, known as either the "garden room" or the "quiet room".

The rooms had "no features, no clock, no heating, no TV or radio, no bathroom facilities".

Residents could be confined for "several hours or overnight sometimes", with each "effectively imprisoned in that room against their will", said Mr Langdon.

The company was paid as much as £4,000 a week per resident, the court heard.

Mr Hewitt ran a total of seven care homes in Devon and Berkshire, but they have since closed and Atlas has gone into administration.

Training 'outdated'

Mr Farrant worked at Vielstone; Ms Barlow and Mr Jones at Gatooma and Mr Lawson worked at both.

Mr Langdon said staff training was "at best outdated" and the homes were an "insular world" which "led to a culture of care that was in effect abusive".

Mr Hewitt denies charges of conspiracy to detain and imprison falsely and failure to discharge a duty. Mr Lawson denies eight charges of false imprisonment, Mr Farrant six charges of false imprisonment and Mr Jones and Ms Barlow three charges each of false imprisonment.

The case continues.