A CARER accused of ill-treating a vulnerable client has been found not guilty within less than an hour by a jury.
The jury at Swansea Crown Court delivered their verdict of not guilty against John Riddell- Turner.
The prosecution had claimed he had ill-treated the woman in his care at Maesglas Community Support Unit during an incident on July 11, 2011.
But his colleagues took to the stand defending his reputation, with one calling him a "fantastic carer".
An allegation was made by Susan Grenfell, a care worker who said she had no formal experience of working with people with learning difficulties.
She had worked her first shift at the unit the day before, the court heard, and alleged that after the woman had thrown some sandwiches on the floor, Mr Riddell- Turner lost his temper and grabbed the woman before dragging her from the lounge.
Mr Riddell-Turner, 51, maintained throughout his police interview and during the trial that he had guided the woman from the room for the safety of herself and other staff. He said Miss Grenfell seemed flustered by the woman's outburst because of her inexperience so he escorted the woman out of the room by putting one hand on her shoulder and the other on her wrist.
"I was concerned she would follow up the throwing with a physical attack.
"I don't know Susan Grenfell from Adam so I didn't know how she would react," he had told the jury.
He "categorically denied" abusing the woman, who he had worked with since 1995.
He broke down in tears as he told police in his interview that he found the allegation "insulting" after completing 30 years of work in the care industry with no cautions, reprimands or incidents.
He had denied claims by prosecution barrister Patrick Griffiths that he had lashed out after losing his temper because he was under pressure at work.
The not guilty verdict was the second received by Mr Riddell- Turner during the trial at Swansea Crown Court.
Judge Peter Heywood had already told the jury to return a not guilty verdict on a second count alleging ill-treatment on the same woman.
That allegation was made by two members of cleaning staff who came forward after Mr Riddell-Turner was suspended for the allegation made by Miss Grenfell.
They alleged they had seen him abuse the women in a separate, earlier, incident.
After a legal submission by defence barrister Ieuan Rees the judge said the content of the evidence given by Deborah Pavey and Joanne Arnold was too different from each other and he directed a not guilty verdict be given.
The allegation the jury were left to decide upon stemmed from an incident at tea-time on July 11, 2011, when the woman, who has Downs Syndrome and severe learning difficulties — was eating her dinner in the lounge of the unit.
Miss Grenfell had alleged Mr Riddell-Turner, of Merlin Crescent, Townhill, had said he was "out of order" in his actions.
She said that when she confronted him about it, he refused to answer.
He was suspended by Swansea council after the incident.
