A CARE assistant has told a court that she did not abuse elderly dementia patients at a Bolton home.

Maidi Nizyimana told Bolton Crown Court the first she knew about allegations made against her was in November, 2011 when she was interviewed by police — two months after the alleged offences at the Bupa Millview Residential and Nursing Home in Bridgeman Street.

Nizyimana is said to have squeezed the hands of three male residents so hard that they cried out in pain as she was attempting to undress them and pinched the foot of a woman as she got her into bed.

She denies four counts of ill treating or wilfully neglecting a person without mental capacity.

Nizyimana, aged 29, of Fernstead, Deane, told a jury that she had worked as a care assistant at Martin House, which looks after late stage dementia residents at the home, for more than a year and had worked alongside fellow care assistant Catherine Murray two or three times without a problem.

It was Mrs Murray who reported seeing Nizyimana allegedly abuse the residents during a night shift at the home on September 7, 2011.

Nizyimana told the court that she was “surprised and shocked” when she finally learned about the allegations against her.

She said that, on the night in question, she had only worked with three of the four residents she is said to have hurt, avoiding dealing with the fourth because she was two months pregnant at the time and he could be aggressive.

Sara Woodhouse Davie, defending, asked her: “Did you assault or ill treat any of the residents?”

“No,” Nizyimana replied.

The case continues.