A COUPLE have appeared in court in connection with alleged neglect and fraud involving mentally-ill patients at homes in Colchester.

No charges were put to Daramdeo Ramchurn and his wife Naliny when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and the case was adjourned.

The couple, of Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, will return to court in April. They were bailed until then.

The couple were charged after a series of raids at nine care homes in Cowdray Avenue and Harwich Road, Colchester. Ramchurn, 72, and his 57-year-old wife face a total of 21 charges each.

They are accused of ill-treating or neglecting people who lacked mental capacity between April 2008 and November 2008.

They also face charges of abuse of their position as contractors for Essex County Council in providing personal care services for adults with learning disabilities in registered care homes.

The couple are also alleged to have failed to account for benefits withdrawn from the Post Office for each person.