Police to carry out new investigation into man allegedly punched at Winterbourne View care home

Lawyers acting for an autistic man with bi-polar have welcomed news that the police are to review his claim that he was punched in the face by a care worker at Winterbourne View care home.

The alleged abuse happened two years before the BBC's Panorama programme revealed widespread mistreatment at the home.

Eleven care workers are about to be sentenced for abusing five patients there.

Avon and Somerset Police have now announced that they will review Ben Pullar’s claim that he was allegedly punched in the face by a care worker at the home.

Mr Pullar has bi-polar disorder and is autistic and suffered a broken jaw and loss of teeth in the alleged assault.

Abuse claims solicitor Alison Millar, who together with partner Charlotte Skouby of Leigh Day & Co, is acting for Mr Pullar said: “It is very important that the whole truth is revealed, it seems obvious that the alleged abuse was not just happening on the days the BBC Panorama cameras recorded it last year. This was a systemic, historic problem at Winterbourne View.

“This type of casual violence towards vulnerable members of our society is a problem that is reported time and time again to the abuse claims team at Leigh Day. Sadly we receive complaints about the mistreatment of learning disabled adults and children and adolescents affected by such scandals as the Jimmy Savile affair, on a regular basis.”

She called for a “cultural shift” in all organisations that have responsibility for the care of vulnerable people, or who have witnessed abuse and said: “Families must be reassured that there are systems in place that offer protection and that any allegations of mistreatment will be taken seriously and that abusers will be brought to justice.”

A BBC investigation backed claims by the lawyers at Leigh Day & Co that their client Ben Pullar was assaulted by different staff members.

Mr Pullar, 21, spent 12 months at Winterbourne View from July 2009. It was during this time that it is alleged he lost two teeth after being punched in the face.

His twin, Tom, told the BBC that his behaviour changed drastically after going to the hospital. "He's burst out crying on me and demanded to talk about Winterbourne View - and this is two years after Winterbourne View - so it still affects him today."

Mr Pullar was taken to Bristol Dental Hospital as an emergency patient, and doctors raised the alarm with the authorities because of the severity of his injuries.

The care home, now under new management, looks after people with severe learning difficulties.