A care home worker who mistreated four elderly residents suffering from dementia has been jailed for 12 months.

Malcolm Cramp (52) was said to have been "cruel and almost sadistic" to one victim, a 97-year-old woman, by switching her bedroom light off and closing her door, which he knew she feared.

He did it to punish her for getting out of bed.

Cramp then tucked her in so tightly she was unable to get out again, causing her to scream and cry out in distress.

At a recent trial, Cramp was convicted of seven counts of ill-treating a person who lacks capacity, involving four women Alzheimer's sufferers, in their 80s and 90s.

The offences happened at Brockshill Woodlands home, in Oadby, run by Prime Life, between February 2009 and January 2010.

Cramp, of Ervins Lock Road, Wigston, had denied the offences, claiming other staff members conspired in a "witch hunt" against him.

He claimed there was resentment because he was married to the home's manager at the time.

Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Simon Hammond said: "It became apparent to members of staff, but not his then-wife, he was unsuitable for such work.

"He'd shout and swear and throw his weight about and do what he wanted.

"He expected residents to be in bed by the time his shift started at 8pm.

"All four victims were vulnerable, suffering from dementia, and, in the twilight of their lives, were entitled to be treated with dignity, respect and understanding, which the other staff sought to give, but sadly not the defendant.

"There will be public abhorrence because of these offences and the sentence must reflect that."

In relation to the 97-year-old victim who had her light switched off and door closed, Judge Hammond said: "The defendant's conduct on that night was cruel and almost sadistic."

Cramp had also tied her to a chair with a blanket on one occasion.

He also tucked an 85-year-old too tightly into bed on several occasions and forced an 86-year-old back to bed when she got up. He pulled an 81-year-old woman out of her chair, which caused the chair to be dragged a short distance across the room.

Steven Newcombe, in mitigation for Cramp, said his client had come from "an industrial background".

"He was wholly unsuited for work of this nature and didn't have the aptitude or temperament for it," said Mr Newcombe, despite, the court was told, him receiving some training from Prime Life.

"Within a few days, he assumed the care of some very vulnerable and difficult people. He's not an evil or uncaring man."

Cramp's former wife, Michelle Cramp (43), manager of the home at the time, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the jury, who found her not guilty of two allegations against her – of shouting and swearing at an elderly resident and swearing and shoving another into her office.