Carer ill-treated 'challenging' disabled man at Black Country care home
A carer who admitted ill-treating a "challenging" disabled man he was supposed to be looking after has lost his job but kept his liberty.
The 44-year-old victim, who suffers from autism, is profoundly deaf and has significant learning difficulties, had been cared for by Christopher Dunkley for some time without complaint at the residential home in Dudley Road, West Bromwich.
The man, who needs to be safeguarded and deprived of the ordinary liberties of life for his own safety, had lived there for 14 years, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
He was a "challenging" individual, whose disabilities were such that he could be physically aggressive towards staff and Dunkley used excessive force to control him on October 6 2017.
The 44-year-old was found with his knee allegedly in the back of the man who was face down on the floor with his wrist reportedly being held by the defendant.
The victim was not injured but Dunkley lost his job for failing to comply with the operating procedures which were in place for the restraint and care of the man.
Miss Samantha Forsyth, defending, said: "He realises this was not the most appropriate place for him to work and is now looking for another career after getting an HGV licence."
Dunkley from Rookery Road, Handsworth, admitted ill-treating an individual and was ordered to pay £250 costs and do 150 hours unpaid work for the community.
Recorder Stephen Thomas told him: "You were a very good employee with no indication of mistreating anybody.
"The man behaved in a way that required skillful and considerate intervention and, on this one occasion, you used excessive restraint.
"You let yourself down with the technique and force used on him but it was only momentary.
"When told to stop you immediately did so. It is a shame you have lost your job as a result but you have taken steps to find alternative employment."
