The boss of a scandal-hit care home has been found guilty of misconduct and struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Chandnee Gokhool, 50, was found to have repeatedly left the Dial House Nursing Home, Littlehampton, without a qualified nurse, humiliated a mentally ill patient and allowed unregistered staff to give out medicine.

Nurse Alvina Bhatti lifted the lid on the situation at the home after accusing Gokhool of trying to ruin her marriage.

Mrs Bhatti said Gokhool repeatedly phoned her husband at their home, then alleged he had sexually assaulted her.

She said Gokhool would go home after the morning shift to "freshen up".

On other occasions Gokhool would leave Mrs Bhatti in charge when she had not completed her formal training.

Mrs Bhatti said: "This happened many times on a Saturday. I would work 15 hours alone, so I had to administer medication when I was not registered."

She claimed Gokhool also mocked a schizophrenic patient's "peacock dance", reducing her to tears.

Margaret Bromley, for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, told the NMC panel an inspector sent to the nursing home found only two members of staff, both health assistants.

The following month, she discovered a care assistant was sharing the penthouse suite with a patient, living in a small curtained-off area.

"It is absolutely not acceptable for a patient to share a room with a member of staff," she added.

The NMC panel found five of six charges proved and ruled that Gokhool should be struck off.