A BOLTON auxiliary nurse turned a physically and mentally disabled patient face down in pillows and left him for dead, Manchester Crown Court heard today.

Opening the case against Shaun Phillip Darrock, 22, of Gilnow Gardens, Bolton, Roger Darley QC prosecuting alleged Darrock was guilty of a "malicious and deliberate act."

Darrock is accused of the attempted murder of William Winnard, aged 61, on January 28 this year.

The court was told that Alzheimers disease sufferer Mr Winnard was found face down in pillows on a bed on a Ward at Bolton General Hospital.

Earlier, Mr Winnard, whose body was rigid, was put to bed on his back with his head to one side.

Then Darrock was told to give Winnard his medicine. He returned from the ward a few minutes later. About half an hour later, two other nurses went into the side ward to put another patient to bed and found Mr Winnard in distress.

Mr Darley, told the court: "But for that chance discovery, the Crown's case is that Mr Winnard would have chocked to death. "Our case is that this was a malicious and deliberate act and any suggestion it was accidental does not bear serious examination."

The court heard that Mr Winnard who is also an epileptic died in May this year.

Darrock denies attempted murder.

(Proceeding)

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