Fresh investigation into punching allegation at Winterbourne View

Police are to begin a fresh investigation into the case of an 18-year-old man allegedly punched in the face at scandal-hit Winterbourne View.

Ben Pullar, who is autistic and suffers from bi-polar disorder, had two teeth knocked out while he was a patient at the private hospital at Hambrook, South Gloucestershire.

Winterbourne View

The incident happened two years before the BBC’s Panorama programme disclosed widespread mistreatment at the home. Eleven care workers have now been sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for ill-treating and neglecting five patients there.

Mr Pullar spent almost a year at Winterbourne View from July 2009 when he was 18.

Special Landlord Offer at Butlers Property Bristol

Butlers Property Ltd

View details

Print voucher

Terms: For full Terms & Conditions, contact us today

Contact: 0117 370 7570

Valid until: Saturday, June 06 2015

The BBC Inside Out West programme this week reported seeing Mr Pullar’s case notes, which stated he “had an accident with his teeth”.

His family said they were given mixed messages about what happened and were told at one point he had “bitten the floor”.

His twin brother, Tom, told the programme: “Ben can get very upset very quickly over things that are not that important. I’ve taken him to go to the toilet before and he’s burst out crying on me, demanded to talk about Winterbourne View – and this is two years after Winterbourne View – and so it still affects him today.”

BBC Inside Out West alleged that a nurse was suspended in connection with the incident and later reinstated.

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “The abuse suffered by the patients of Winterbourne View was appalling in the extreme. “We want to make sure we learn all we can from this, and address any lingering concerns.” about incidents that took place there. That’s why, following obvious concerns from Ben’s family, we have begun a fresh review of Ben’s case.”