Whistleblower who accused a carer of sexually abusing a disabled woman gave “inconsistent and logistically impossible” accounts, a court heard.

Kevin Harris, 35, is accused of touching the resident while he was working at the Beech Lodge home in Horsham.

Harris denies the incident, which allegedly took place in August 2016.

Lewes Crown Court heard the father of two’s colleague allegedly saw him sexually assaulting the woman as she walked into a room.

But, giving her closing speech, Harris’s barrister Louise McCullough said the evidence from whistleblower Winifred Beruchan was inconsistent.

She told the court: “Why would someone who had worked for four years at Beech Lodge tending to the woman on a regular basis behave in such an outrageous way?

“I suggest to the jury the Crown’s principle witness [Miss Beruchan] has given inconsistent and logistically impossible accounts.”

She said Harris had given a full account at police interview he had not deviated from, including admitting there was a breach of the home’s rules by staying with the disabled woman alone in her room while his colleague popped out.

The court earlier heard from Miss Beruchan who said she witnessed Harris assaulting the woman, after stepping out of the room to retrieve bedding and then returning.

She told a colleague, before reporting it to another member of staff two days later, who reported it to the police.

Harris denied assaulting the woman and said he had simply been assisting his colleague as she washed her.

Harris, of Littlehaven Lane, Horsham, pleaded not guilty to two counts of a care worker engaging in sexual activity with a mentally disordered female.

The jury of six men and six women went out yesterday afternoon to consider their verdict. The trial continues today.