A care home worker stuffed a flannel into a patient’s mouth before telling her: ‘Do us a favour and die tonight’, a court was told.

Deborah Edlin, 47, of Burgess Hill, is also accused of slapping a dementia patient.

She was working at St Rita's Care Home in Ditchling at the time of the alleged incidents between January and March last year.

Edlin denies four charges of ill-treatment or wilful neglect under the Mental Capacity Act.

Two whistle-blowers at the home told Brighton Magistrates’ Court they saw Edlin abusing two separate women, one in her late 90s and another in her 80s.

The care home is part of a St George's Retreat which specialises in dementia patients and vulnerable adults.

The court was told how Rachel Whatford, a care assistant at the time, was the first to complain about Edlin's behaviour.

She said: “I witnessed Debbie hitting two of our ladies. On the first occasion in March last year we were bathing a resident with dementia.

“She was a bit confused as to what was happening to her. She was a lady who got very agitated, she would hit out and occasionally try to bite us. We were getting her undressed for the bath.

“Debbie held her hands down and slapped her across the face and said ‘No, don’t try to bite me’. It left a red mark.

“The resident started to cry and held her cheek. It obviously hurt her face.

“I was shocked, I expected Debbie to restrain her in some way but not to slap her around the face.”

Miss Whatford went on to tell the court about a separate occasion on another patient at the care home.

She told the court herself and Edlin were changing the incontinence pad of a resident who had suffered a stroke and could not move her left side.

She said: “Whenever we tried to wash or change her she would hit out and scream. Debbie had the flannel we were using and put it into her mouth to stop her shouting.

“She was still screaming she didn’t understand what was happening to her. It was forceful. She said, ‘That’ll keep you quiet’ or ‘That'll shut you up' or something.

“Then as we were leaving and Debbie was closing the door she said loudly, 'Do us a favour and die tonight'.”

Miss Whatford eventually made a complaint alongside another worker, Holly Rogers, in June last year.

Both told the court they were too frightened to make an allegation sooner because Edlin was “intimidating”.

Miss Rogers broke down after being questioned by defence barrister Mark Blundell asked why it had taken “months” for her to come forward.

Mr Blundell said Edlin had worked in care homes for 19 years.

The trial continues.