Problems with inappropriate sexual touching, violence and abuse escalated at a home for traumatised teenagers, a court heard.
The problems at Orchard House, part of the Jacques Hall Foundation run by Priory Healthcare, were so bad last year that a support worker resorted to stealing from her boss in an attempt to lose her job, a court heard.
The situation at the Bradfield home had such a dramatic impact upon Jacoelyn Bilton that she has vowed never to return to that kind of work.
Bilton, 42, tried to resign twice but was talked out of it, Colchester magistrates heard, and she felt there was no other way out.
There were also problems with wages at the site, in Harwich Road, Bradfield, Colchester Magistrates' Court heard on Friday.
Nikki Miller, mitigating for Bilton, who admitted theft and obtaining money by deception, said: "From the time the defendant was taken on at Orchard House full-time in June 2004, there were problems with wages.
"There was no proper structure for the residents they are disturbed adolescents, and violence, inappropriate sexual touching and verbal abuse began to escalate, making her work situation quite intolerable."
She added that Bilton, a mother of three of Elm Grove, Great Clacton, told senior staff twice she wanted to hand her notice in because she was unhappy with the way the place was run. Both times she was talked out of it and promised changes.
Magistrates gave Bilton a 120-hour community punishment order and she must pay £138 costs and £70 compensation.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, February 14, 2005
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