Two care workers have spoken of their relief after being acquitted of neglecting a patient.

They were sacked from Five Ways residential home in Tankerton after 19-year-old Darren Green was taken to hospital suffering from serious burns.

But on Wednesday at Canterbury Crown Court Judge Michael O’Sullivan told the pair they could leave court “with unblemished characters”.

After discussions between two burns experts, the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence and Ebenezer Adebisi, 27, of Forest Row, London, and Sharon Johnson, 46, Charnwood Street, London, were formally acquitted.

Both had denied the charge.

Mr Adebisi had been accused of leaving the victim in a bath while he went out of the room.

But the court heard that the valve on the hot water tap was faulty and scalding water burned Mr Green.

After the hearing, Mr Adebisi said: “I am so relieved. It had been a nightmare. I have suffered depression and worry over this case.”

Miss Johnson added: “We loved this patient and would have never done him any deliberate harm.”

•For full story see this week’s Whitstable Gazette