The manager of a Shropshire care home dragged a mentally disabled patient along the floor by her wrist, a court heard.

Julie Palin, 40, is also alleged to have grabbed and ripped Alison Broad’s top at Gracelands Residential Home, Ellesmere Road, Whittington. Palin, of Caer Road, Oswestry, denies ill-treating or wilfully neglecting 41-year-old Miss Broad, who has severe learning difficulties.

Mr Adam Warner, prosecuting at Oswestry Magistrates Court yesterday, said staff members had accused Palin, who had been the home’s manager for more than six years and had worked in the care sector for 23 years, of “bullying and intimidating” Miss Broad.

Mr Warner told magistrates that, when interviewed by police, Palin said the allegation was “a put-up job” by employees Victoria Pugh and Emma Preece.

Mrs Pugh, giving evidence at yesterday’s trial, said Miss Broad had been disruptive and had dropped to the floor in the home’s hallway.

“Palin took hold of her wrist and dragged her backwards across hallway floor,” she said. “She dragged her for about 10 to 15ft. 

“Alison was on her back. She became very distressed.

“I was very upset. I had never seen anything like that.

“Alison was shouting ‘I’ll be good’ several times. I was just shocked.”

Mrs Pugh said she went back into the lounge and told Mrs Preece and Cara Pallantina, two colleagues, what she had seen.

She said Miss Broad then ran into the lounge, chased by Palin.

Mrs Pugh said Palin then grabbed Miss Broad’s top and pulled her back, ripping the clothing and Mrs Preece had to grab hold of Miss Broad to stop her falling and potentially striking her head on a radiator.

Mrs Pugh said she later saw Palin sitting on the floor, with the hallways lights switched off, with her leg over Miss Broad’s to restrain her.

Mrs Preece told magistrates she saw Palin “yank” Miss Broad so hard the patient’s T-shirt ripped and that she had to reach out to catch Miss Broad from falling.

Miss Pallantina also told the court she saw Palin pull Miss Broad back and rip her clothing.

In police interview, Palin denied she had dragged Miss Broad along the floor or pulled her back and said she had sat beside her in the hallway to try to calm her down.

The trial was adjourned until March 2.

By Iain St John