A man who was “non-verbal” and with severe learning difficulties was not treated with respect by two care workers, a judge was told.

Judge David Hale said at Mold crown court he had “a degree of sympathy” for the pair looking after such vulnerable patients and dealing with challenges with which “most of us have no need to have any contact.”

CCTV had revealed instances in which the head of the patient, in his 30s, was pushed towards his food to persuade him to eat.

He had complex needs and cushions were issued to prevent self-harming injuries because of his habit of banging his head.

Dean Jones, aged 39, of Gronant Street, Rhyl, and 30-year-old Sophie Moore of Tower Gardens, Prestatyn, pleaded guilty to a charge of ill-treatment as care workers and were given a year’s community order.

The judge was told they’d been sacked from their jobs at the Plas Lorna care home in Rhuddlan and disqualified from working in the sector.

Prosecuting, Simon Rogers said the patient required full time care. In one of the incidents Jones had pushed him across the kitchen as the man punched himself and in another had repeatedly pushed his head down.

When questioned Jones, who had worked at the home for five years, said: “I have no excuse, I’ve had a frustrating day.”

Moore had also pushed and grabbed him, forcing his head down, but had made no comment when quizzed.

Sarah Yates, defending the pair, said they had shown remorse and accepted what had been alleged.

The judge said such patients “required care and to be treated with such respect as they deserved.

“You behaved in a way you knew was wrong because at times you weren’t treating him with the respect you should have.”

Judge Hale said the outcome of the case would have been different had there been physical harm. It had been suggested that the defendants had not been given all the help they needed and that systems had not been available.

He told them : “You have no criminal tendencies at all. It’s been a complete disaster to you, you have lost your jobs, careers and barred from work in care homes for a number of years.”

Jones and Moore must carry out ten days of a rehabilitation programme and do 80 hours of unpaid work. Costs of £85 each were imposed.