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, who was charged with ill-treating three patients at the Surrey Heights Care Home, entered guilty pleas at Guildford Crown Court last week. He is due to be sentenced on February 12.

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

A 25-year-old man, from Godalming, was also arrested on suspicion of neglect, and a 23-year-old woman, from Godalming, was arrested on suspicion of neglect as well as common assault, while a 40-year-old woman, from Aldershot, was arrested on suspicion of neglect and assault.

They were all released without further action.

The three patients, one of whom has now died, were suffering various stages of dementia.