Staff whose mistreatment of patients was exposed by documentary escape jail

Four staff members at a specialist hospital unit who were exposed by an undercover BBC Panorama documentary mistreating vulnerable patients have narrowly escaped jail.

Whorlton Hall, a 17-bed independent unit for people with complex needs near Barnard Castle, County Durham, was shut down after the TV show aired and a police investigation was launched.

Following a trial at Crown Court, four men were convicted of mistreating patients who had autism and learning difficulties by taunting, mocking and goading