A BROMLEY man shouted, swore at and, on one occasion, hit elderly and mentally ill patients at a Bickley care home, a court has heard.

Marc Harwood, 44, of Howard Road, Bromley, is accused of three counts of ill treating and one of assaulting patients when working as a care assistant at the Lauriston House Care Home in Bickley Park Road.

Prosecuting lawyer Matthew Farmer told Croydon Crown Court that Niluka Ralalage, also a care assistant at the home, went to social services when she no longer knew what to do about Harwood's behaviour.

The charges brought against Harwood concern three patients, Molly Gravenell, Kathleen Hill and Frank Lord.

On one occasion Harwood was in the bedroom of Mr Lord, who suffers from partial paralysis and impaired brain function after a stroke, when Miss Ralalage entered.

Mr Farmer said: "The bedroom door was closed, and Miss Ralalage came in.

"Frank was on the bed, and Mark was moving him around quite aggressively, throwing his arm around. Frank was screaming in pain.

"Mark said: 'He is just an idiot. He is paralysed, how can he feel pain? He is just a drama queen.'

"He said to him: 'Don't try to f*** me or I will f*** you back. You are f***ing useless.'

"Then he pulled Frank up and slapped him really hard on the stomach."

Mr Farmer told the jury of a similar incident concerning Mrs Hill, who suffers from dementia and is partially paralysed following a stroke.

He said: "When Niluka went to Kathleen's bedroom the door was closed.

"She had had an accident and was lying on the ground and Mark was shouting at her.

"He said: 'Look at this f***ing woman, look at what she has f***ing done.'

"He was making hand movements which implied sex and saying: 'I am going to f*** you, I am going to f*** you.'

"Kathleen was crying and saying she was sorry. She was shaking."

Concerning Mrs Gravenell, who suffers from dementia and has one leg, Mr Farmer said: "On one occasion, Molly was being hoisted from her bed.

"Mark was getting angry with her for not bending her leg.

"He shouted at her: 'Bend your b***** leg, bend your b***** leg you idiot.'

"He told her: 'You're useless. All you do is eat and sleep.'

"Molly had tears in her eyes."

The incidents took place between February 1 and August 12 of last year.

Harwood denies two counts of wilful neglect, in addition to the three counts of ill treating patients and one count of assault by beating.

The trial continues.

A 'culture of neglect and ill treatment'

Matthew Farmer told Croydon Crown Court that: "the situation at Lauriston House Care Home was not a happy one.

"Miss Ralalage became shocked at the ill treatment and abuse handed out to a number of patients.

"She tried to speak to management and they didn't do anything, so she went to social services and told them the allegations.

"As a result there was an inquiry, but the management were uncooperative. Documents were destroyed and shredded.

According to Mr Farmer, the inquiry led to 13 staff being suspended, including the manager and duty manager."

He added: "The culture that was prevalent in Lauriston Care Home during this period was one of neglect and ill treatment."