ONE-TO-ONE care was crucial to the safety of a dementia sufferer and other care home residents, a court heard yesterday.

Dawn Harris told Newport crown court that the terms of her contract with care home operators, Ashbourne, meant she could be moved to other homes if necessary.

Harris said Alan Sayers was admitted in her absence and as care manager, Enda Evans was responsible for implementing his care.

Mr Sayers, 52, was found dead in his room at Mountleigh Care Home, Newbridge, on September 27, 2004 at around 4am.

Under cross-examination, Harris said she believed at the time that Mr Sayers’ one-to-one care was “more than adequate” but admitted it was vital to prevent him being a risk.

Mountleigh Care Home general manager Harris, 52, of Raglan Mews, Newport and care manager Enda Evans, 56, of Glyn Derw, Caerphilly, are charged with wilful neglect between December 18, 2002 and September 28, 2004.

Care assistants Rosslyn Jenkins, 54, of Alexandra Place, Newbridge and Chengeta Kaziboni, 34, of Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff and nurse Musediq Salisu, 47, of Viscount Evan Drive, Newport, are charged with wilful neglect between September 25 and September 28 2004.

GP Sushma Ohja, 55, of Hillside Park, Bargoed, is charged with making false representations on Mr Sayers’s death and cremation certificates and falsely obtaining £50.70 from Gwent Police by claiming she attended the home in her capacity as a police doctor.

The care home is now called Millview House and Lodge and is run by Southern Cross Care Homes.

Michael Lurvey, 54, of Greenfield, Newbridge and Margaret Lewis, 60, of Prospect Place, Cwmbran, were both cleared of all charges, after Judge Roderick Denyer held there was no case to answer.

Proceeding.