THESE are some of the cases that were heard at Worcester Crown Court last week.

Three former care workers have denied neglect and ill-treatment of residents at a home for people with dementia.

All three defendants, two of whom live in Worcester, entered not guilty pleas following the alleged abuse at Willow Bank care home in Throckmorton, near Pershore when they appeared at Worcester Crown Court on November 28..

Derek Mead, aged 51, of Gillam Street, Worcester, denied ill-treatment or neglect of a person who lacked capacity which is said by the prosecution to have taken place on February 8, last year and between January 7 and March 13 last year.

Cheryl Dudley, aged 47, of Gillam Street, Worcester, denied two offences of ill-treatment/neglect of a person who lacked capacity between January 7 and February 24 and between April 4, 2017 and February 24 last year.

Anna Davies, 35, of St Lawrence Road, Evesham, denied four 'like' or similar offences of ill-treatment/neglect of someone who lacked capacity between January 7 and March 13 last year, between January 7 and February 24, between April 4, 2017 and February 24 last year.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said none of the complainants would be appearing as witnesses, telling the court: "Some have sadly died. Some don't have capacity."

The Recorder of Worcester, Judge Robert Juckes QC, adjourned the case for a trial set to take place on July 13 next year.

The time estimate for the trial is 10 days.

A pre-trial hearing will take place on June 18 next year to discuss 'trial readiness'. The defendants will not be required to attend the pre-trial hearing unless they wish to do so but trial counsel will be expected to attend.

Although Mr Aspinall appeared for the Crown, Siobhan Collins is expected to prosecute the case at trial.

At the short administrative hearing, Glenn Cook appeared on behalf of Mead, Fiona Elder on behalf of Davies and Suzanne Francis for Dudley.

All clients were granted unconditional bail.

A cocaine conspirator’s Worcester home has been sold while he’s in prison as police claw back criminal cash made from drug dealing.

Ashley James, who led a Worcester cocaine conspiracy, did not appear at the short proceeds of crime application (POCA) hearing at Worcester Crown Court on November 25.

James, now aged 32, was jailed for 18 years by Judge Robert Juckes QC in November 2017 for the conspiracy and for concealing criminal property, also known as ‘money laundering.’

He spent the proceeds of cocaine dealing on a car, holidays, dental work, luxury hotel stays and presents for his partner.

James, previously of Cherington Close, Worcester, led the conspiracy which brought at least £400,000 (12kg) of cocaine to Worcester.

He was jailed alongside his lieutenants. During various arrests and searches police seized more than £129,000 in cash and over two thirds of a kilo of cocaine worth between £24,000 and £35,000.

The bulk of the cocaine came from Liverpool but some of it was later sourced from Worcester. The conspiracy lasted at least two years, beginning in 2013 and ending in October 2015 when arrests took place.

The police investigation involved bugging James’s Renault Kangoo van to record conversations, the seizure of drugs and analysis of so-called dirty phones, clandestine observations, a dramatic arrest of the drugs courier on the M6 and the arrest of street dealer associates of the main conspirators.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said: “The house was repossessed and sold and realised more than people thought.”

However, he said there had to be a hearing to discuss the actual transfer of the money.

Mr Aspinall said letters had been sent to James at his former address but he had not received them because he was in prison.

“He’s clearly not there. It was actually sent to the house that was repossessed,” said Mr Aspinall.

The barrister applied to have the case adjourned for 28 days so that contact could be made with James.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing on December 23.