Four former staff at Whorlton Hall, Matthew Banner, Peter Bennett, Ryan Fuller and John Sanderson, were convicted of the ill treatment of patients and given suspended prison sentences on 19 January 2024

On 18 October Peter Bennett and Matthew Banner lost their appeals against their convictions. Their legal team argued that some of their actions did not amount to ill treatment. However, the judges hearing their appeals stated that the jury who had heard the evidence were well able to decide for themselves whether what they heard and saw in evidence was ill treatment or not.

Peter Bennett was convicted of two counts of ill-treatment of a person in care . Matthew Banner was convicted of five counts of the same offence in April 2023, following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The convictions resulted from a BBC investigation into allegations of abuse at Whorlton Hall at Barnard Castle, County Durham in 2019. The 17-bed private hospital, which was also funded by the NHS, specialised in caring for patients with complex needs. An undercover reporter filmed staff verbally abusing and mocking patients over several months. The shocking footage formed part of a Panorama programme broadcast that year.

The patients were highly vulnerable and dependent on the staff to care for them and meet their needs. It was clear from the programme, and subsequent criminal investigations, that some staff at the hospital had failed to do that.

The criminal investigation resulted in a total of 10 members of staff at the home being arrested.

The abuse team at Switalskis has many years of experience in acting for clients bringing claims against individuals, care homes and other institutions.

If you would like to speak to one of our experienced team of solicitors for advice, we can guarantee that you will be dealt with sensitively and with the utmost confidence.

You can contact Samantha Follows confidentially her email address is samantha.follows@switalskis.com or call us on 0800 1380 458