THREE care workers who stand accused of mistreating and abusing an elderly woman with dementia have appeared in court this week.

The men, who all worked at the Granary Care Centre in Wraxall at the time of the supposed incidents, are alleged to have been caught on camera verbally abusing and ‘throwing around’ 80-year-old Gladys Wright.

Their victim, who suffers from severe dementia, moved into the dementia care home owned by Shaw Healthcare in September 2012 and at the same time her son hid a motion-activated camera in the private room she was given at the facility.

He later handed some 127 CDs of footage to police allegedly showing what he believed to be inappropriate behaviour, mistreatment and the degradation of his grandmother.

Three workers at the Lodge Lane facility were subsequently arrested in February and later charged in relation to 12 incidents which occurred between October and December last year.

All three appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges yesterday (Tues).

Tomasz Gidaszewski, aged 29 of Biddisham Close, Nailsea, was charged with one count of being a carer who ill treated/wilfully neglected a person without mental capacity.

This relates to footage which allegedly shows him and Baynes man-handling Mrs Wright and, in the words of prosecutor Michael Collins, ‘effectively throwing her around the bed’. He is also accused of taunting his victim.

Daniel Baynes, aged 24, of Vineyards, Bath, was charged with three similar counts and two of theft.

Video footage allegedly shows him twice taking food from a cupboard in Mrs Wright’s room which was bought for her by her family.

He is also filmed allegedly being verbally abusive toward her, being forceful and handling her in a very rough way.

Janusz Salnikow, aged 24 of Greenway Park, Bristol, was charged with three counts of being a carer who ill treated/wilfully neglected a person without mental capacity.

He is accused of grabbing her by the hair, telling her off, being verbally abusive toward her and ‘throwing her around’ while changing her. According to Mr Collins, in some of the footage Mrs Wright can be heard screaming and saying ‘ow’ and ‘no’.

No defence was offered by either of the defendants and no pleas were entered.

Their case will next be heard at a preliminary hearing at Bristol Crown Court on October 1 before they are expected to enter pleas on January 7.