The former owner and manager of a Halifax nursing home have been accused of accepting a system of poor pressure sore care resulting from staff and equipment shortages.

Police and health officials went into Philip Bentley's Elm View premises back in October 2011 and yesterday a jury heard allegations that at-risk residents were not regularly turned or taken to the toilet and the home did not have enough equipment such as pressure relieving mattresses.

Bentley, 65, of Woodthorpe Drive, Sandal, Wakefield, has denied charges relating to the alleged neglect of three elderly women who developed pressure sores at the home in 2011.

The homes former manager 49-year-old Faheza Simpson, of Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, has also denied those three neglect charges and a further neglect allegation relating to a man who suffered pressure sores while staying at the home for a week.

The jury at Bradford Crown Court began hearing closing speeches from prosecution and defence counsel.

Prosecutor Nicholas Askins said the four complainants were provided with a degree of care while at the home, but he alleged that it was plainly inadequate.

Fazeha Simpson and Phillip Bentley
Fazeha Simpson and Phillip Bentley Picture: Ross Parry

Mr Askins highlighted the evidence of former employees at the home who alleged that it was so short of staff in 2011 that they were unable to do all the work required.

Simpson's barrister Michelle Colborne QC said her client had only had five days off work in the six weeks leading up to the police visit to the home which had 22 residents at the time.

She alleged that Simpson was lacking vital support, equipment and resources and was not coping with her workload.

''Faheza Simpson, you may readily accept, was battling with staff who would not follow instructions and were blatantly undermining her and a boss who didn't care either way,'' Miss Colborne told the jury.

The trial continues.