Carer manhandled vulnerable man and sprayed water in face

A CARER tending a vulnerable man described as “a baby with an adult body” manhandled him, squirted a shower in his face, and made “cruel” comments about his mother, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS

Colleagues of Emma Hughes challenged her about her behaviour but she continued until the matter was reported to managers.

Cardiff Crown Court heard 46-year-old Hughes had worked in the care sector for many years without any concerns being raised.

Hughes' barrister said the defendant now realises she should not have been working given what was going on in her personal life at the time, and that she had asked her to apologise to the victim, his family and the court for the harm she caused.

Ieuan Bennett, prosecuting, told the court that prior to the offending before the court, the defendant had worked in the care sector for “many years” without any issues being raised.

He said by March 2022 Hughes had been working at a care home in Pengam for some 15 months, and that one of the people Hughes cared for was a man who is nonverbal and has lifelong physical disabilities. He said when indoors the man would “crawl” around on the floor of his flat but required the use of a wheelchair when outdoors.

The prosecutor said on the morning of March 5, 2022, an assistant who was helping Hughes that day saw her standing over the man as he lay on the floor, trying to get him into a shower chair so he could be washed.