A MALE care assistant from Headley Down has pleaded guilty to ill treating patients at a residential care home in Wormley.

Paul Balea, 38, of Birch Road, was charged with ill treating three patients at the Surrey Heights Care Home.

He entered guilty pleas at Guildford Crown Court last week and is due to be sentenced on February 12.

Balea was arrested on suspicion of neglect after officers from Surrey Police attended the care home, run by CHD Living, on December 23, 2014, following a report of a concern for safety.

A 25-year-old man from Godalming was also arrested on suspicion of neglect; a 23-year-old woman from Godalming was arrested on suspicion of neglect and common assault, and a 40-year-old woman from Aldershot was arrested on suspicion of neglect and assault. These persons were all released without further action.

The three patients, one of whom has now died, had various stages of dementia. Balea’s bail conditions had been not to visit the Surrey Heights or Surrey Hills care homes, not to contact two named women and not to work in a care home or with vulnerable people.