A CARE worker has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting the ill-treatment and wilful neglect of two vulnerable residents at a care home for people with major disabilities.

Wayne Dennis Watkins pleaded guilty last month to ill-treating the two men at the now-closed Horncastle Care Centre in Plawhatch Lane, Sharpthorne near East Grinstead.

The 70-year-old, of Vinnetrow Road, Runcton, near Chichester, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Monday.

He was was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, and is required to undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Two of the counts related to one of the men and one of them to the other men.

Pleas by Watkins of not guilty to three further counts alleging ill-treatment of the first man were accepted by the court.

Officers from the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit investigated allegations received in 2019 of physical mistreatment and lack of safeguarding of 12 residents at the since-closed Centre which was owned and operated by Sussex Health Care.

The Argus: The now-closed centre was near East GrinsteadThe now-closed centre was near East Grinstead

Evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2020, and prosecution of Watkins was authorised.

The centre accommodated up to 20 people with a wide range of major learning and physical disabilities.

Police kept families of residents informed and have liaised with both West Sussex County Council and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) throughout the investigation.

The Argus: He was sentenced on Monday, February 21He was sentenced on Monday, February 21

Detective Constable Rebecca Wilde of the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit said: "Our investigation started when we received via the CQC allegations from a former employee at the Centre. This involved complex enquiries, and interviews with staff and former staff, over many months.

"The court heard that Watkins was systematically mistreating the two residents while administering care and medical attention.

"This is another example of the way which we will work, with other agencies, to follow up alleged mistreatment of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities."

Three other people who were care workers at the centre, two women and a man, were also interviewed under caution during the police investigation on suspicion of ill-treatment of 10 other residents.

However, the CPS advised that there was “insufficient evidence to justify their prosecution.”

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.