Care home neglect

Two directors of a Gloucester care home have appeared in court accused of neglecting nine elderly residents.

Pearl Jackson, 49, managing director of ADL plc, which own Newsham House, and operations director William Jeremy Davies, 60, are accused of wilfully neglecting mental health patients between 2003 and 2005.

Employees Derek Youds, 64, and Heather Bolton, 55, also appeared in court charged with neglect at the complex in Stroud Road.

Jackson, of Wakefield, Yorkshire, Davies, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, and Bolton and Youds, both from Gloucester, appeared before Gloucester Magistrates' Court for committal proceedings.

Their cases were committed to Gloucester Crown Court, where they will next appear for a case management hearing on April 11.

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Victoria Blankstone from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors said: "Following the circumstances surrounding the Maypole Nursing Home and previous reports of Parkfields Residential Home, the spotlight is now on Newsham House Care Home.

"We hope that government will now put the regulation of care homes as a priority to reassure the public that systems will be put in place to protect vulnerable people."

If you or a loved one have been a victim of care home negligence, click here to see how Irwin Mitchell can help you with matters relating to abuse and criminal injury.