A senior carer who bent back the fingers of vulnerable residents at a Chepstow care home has been found guilty of three common assaults by beating. Racquel Welch, from St Arvans, appeared before magistrates in Caerphilly last Friday (9th May), who found her actions to be "deliberate and proved beyond all reasonable doubt." The three assaults took place between 1st August to 19th September last year at St Anne's Nursing Home, Chepstow, which cares for vulnerable adults, the elderly and those with dementia. The court heard how Welch bent back the fingers of two elderly residents, causing them to shout out in pain, making one resident cry while pleading with her to stop. After bending back the fingers of one of the patients, a 90-year-old dementia sufferer, Welch picked him up by the ankles and pushed him down on the bed so forcefully he hit his head on the bed rails. Sophie Powell, a care assistant at the nursing home, said: "I can't remember the level of force but it wasn't appropriate; it was excessive and unnecessary. "He hit his head on his right side. "The level of force used wasn't an accident, it was abusive. There was no reason for her to do what she did." Four witnesses, all carers at St Anne's, gave evidence against Welch. The 47-year-old also restrained another resident who was sitting on the toilet by crossing her arms and pushing them forcefully on his arms, causing the resident to shout out. Welch responded by using foul language. Both Miss Walley and Miss Powell were distressed by the incidents and went to report them to manager Lesley Butcher, who dismissed Welch. Continued on Page 2 Continued from Front Page The court also heard how Welch brought breakfast for one of the residents, and attempted to rip the duvet off the lady while she was still sleeping. This resulted in 'duvet tugging' between Welch and the resident, who became quite distressed. According to the witness, carer Heather Stait, Welch said "sod you" and left the room after she failed to pull the duvet off the lady. Welch was told by prosecutor James Lewis that her evidence "did not add up" and was uncredible. He said: "All of a sudden, today, you remember the events more clearly. This is because you've had time to think about the evidence and come up with your excuses. "You accepted you had a good relationship with all the witnesses and you accept the incidents but what you try to do to be clever is manipulate events." Mr Lewis told magistrates: "The defendant suddenly came up with accounts we had never heard before. "She is making it up as she goes along to suit her ends. If she had nothing to hide she'd have given her entire account at interview." Huw Williams, defending, said: "This is a case where you've heard different accounts of the same incidents. "People can still be mistaken, we could all go out into the carpark and witness the same event and see something completely different." Welch was released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced at Newport Crown Court on Friday 30th May.