A CARE worker falsely accused of raping a 91-year-old man has spoken of his relief now the "nightmare" is over.

The charges against him were eventually dropped, but Mr Barry Hardman (30) says he is determined to make his former employers pay for the way they treated him.

Mr Hardman's ordeal began last June when police arrested him at his home in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe.

An elderly resident at the town's Rose Court Nursing Home, where Mr Hardman worked, had complained that he had raped him.

Mr Hardman, who has always protested his innocence, was charged and spent four days in Strangeways jail before being granted conditional bail.

He was suspended on full pay from Rose Court Nursing Home, where he had worked for four years.

Harmony Health Care, who own the Water Street nursing home, wrote to tell Mr Hardman that he was required to attend a meeting with them on July 29. However, they sent the letter to an address which he had moved out of three years previously.

Mr Hardman was shocked when his pay stopped arriving and he found out that he had been sacked for missing the July meeting.

"How was I supposed to know about it when I didn't even get the letter? I'd told Rose Court about the change of address on numerous occasions."

When he discovered what had happened he instigated proceedings for unfair dismissal, a matter which is still ongoing.

"I had enjoyed my job and got on with my colleagues but the way I have been treated is absolutely rotten. Rose Court have shown no compassion whatsoever, I would have thought they would have stood by an innocent member of staff. The whole thing stinks."

His trial was scheduled to take place on January 17 but in November the prosecution and defence met to discuss the case.

The prosecution effectively accepted there was insufficient evidence against Mr Hardman and that it was highly unlikely that any offence had been committed.

The charge was formally dropped in December.

Director of operations at Rose Court, Mrs Maeve O'Connor, said: "I cannot comment for reasons of confidentiality."

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