A RESPECTED senior care assistant accused of abusing three patients at a Carlisle care home was told that he would face no further action if he resigned, a jury heard.

At the city's crown court, 44-year-old James Gale has gone on trial over three allegations: two of ill-treating a person who lacked mental capacity and one of sexually assaulting a male resident.

The defendant, of Manor Place, Upperby, Carlisle, denies all three charges.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Kim Whittlestone outlined how the offences allegedly happened as Gale worked night shifts at the Harker Grange care home north of Carlisle.

"Harker Grange was a care home for those suffering from dementia or serious brain injury, and at that time it was only one of two such care homes in Cumbria," said the barrister.

The patients looked after by the home were highly vulnerable.

"Their families relied on the care assistants to act in a professional and compassionate manner," said the prosecutor.

Describing how the allegations came to light, Miss Whittlestone summarised the evidence of a care assistant called Rosalind Mitchell, who began work at Harker Grange in April, 2015.

"Before that, she had her own healthcare business," said Miss Whittlestone.

"She was experienced in the field of care and she tended to work day shifts, while the defendant worked night shifts."

The court heard that Gale was well respected by fellow workers and tended to keep himself to himself.

It was when Mrs Mitchell - classed as a junior care assistant - was asked to cover some night shifts in January, 2016, that she asked to work along Gale so she get some guidance from him.

But the way he treated three patients caused her concern, said Miss Whittlestone.

On January 12, while changing the incontinence pad for a man in his 90s suffering from severe dementia, Mrs Mitchell saw Gale sexually assault him, said the barrister.

The second allegation involved a woman in her 90s, also with dementia, who at times could be verbally aggressive as a result of her condition. Gale forced her legs apart so he could change her incontinence pad, making her scream out in pain, said Miss Whittlestone.

"She [Mrs Mitchell] challenged him about being rough, to which he replied: 'Well she didn't listen.'"

The second ill-treatment offence, the court heard, involved a man in his early 80s, left with a severe brain injury after a road accident.

His family had spent some of the compensation he got on making his room nicer, and this included buying him a fish tank.

Mrs Mitchell said she heard Gale telling the man he should not have got any compensation because the accident was his fault.

"This mirrored behaviour she had witnessed on an earlier shift when she heard the defendant being verbally abusive to [him]," said Miss Whittlestone.

She later saw him pinning the same man to the bed, and aggressively telling him: "The girls are scared of you but I'm not and I don't get paid enough to take your ***"

In her evidence, Mrs Mitchell said that she had been shocked at the behaviour she had seen from Gale. The barrister said that Gale was told by his bosses that if he resigned there would be further action against him.

"She was so concerned that he might be able to work in the same profession again that she wasn't prepared to leave it at that," said Miss Whittlestone, explaining that Gale was suspended after his colleague reported his behaviour to bosses but he resigned before the home's own investigation was completed.

The barrister asked Ms Mitchell why she reported the matter to the police.

The witness replied: "Because I knew it hadn't been reported by Harker Grange."

Miss Whittlestone asked: "What was your fear?"

Mrs Mitchell said: "My fear of it not being reported? It was that Gale was free to work elsewhere in care."

She confirmed that she had not fallen out with Gale. The defendant, who had worked at the home for many years, said he could not understand why the three allegations had been made against him.

The barrister also asked Mrs Mitchell about the three alleged victims.

The man in his 80s who had a brain injury did not like to be disturbed, but his mood would change totally if you mentioned rabbit breeding, his former hobby.

Asked about Gale's alleged comments that he should not have had his compensation, Mrs Mitchell replied: "I was absolutely flabbergasted at the way he had spoken to [him], saying it was his fault."

The woman allegedly ill-treated would calm down if you left her alone, she said.

Asked why she had not immediately reported what she saw, she said: "I was shocked at seeing what occurred through the night. You begin to question your own sanity; ask; 'Did you really see that?'"

The barrister asked: "Did you see that?"

Mrs Mitchell replied: "Yes."

The trial continues.