Pensioner looked like POW after 32 days in council care home

The 73-year-old great-grandfather lost two stones during his stay and was left looking "like a prisoner of war", his family claimed yesterday.

Mr Burton was admitted to the home when his daughter, also his full-time carer, became ill.

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But his family were soon desperately worried about the care he received there.

After they complained, Mr Burton, a former RAF engineer who served in the Second World War, was transferred to a private home but died less than a fortnight later.

Last night, his daughter, Mandy Burton, 46, said she was disgusted at the way her father was treated.

"It breaks my heart to think what they did to him," she said. "I thought he would be properly looked after when he went into the care home.

"He was a weak and frail old man and needed the best possible care, but instead he was subjected to appalling neglect.

"It makes me want to cry when I think that someone who fought for his country and worked all his life was left like that.

"He looked awful when he came out. One of his carers even told me he had such a bad mouth infection that she found maggots in his mouth."

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Mr Burton, who worked as a plate welder when he left the RAF, was admitted to Rothwell Grange care home in Rotherham in September last year.

During his 32-day stay, his daughter claims, he was not dressed properly and was often cold.

Her father, a widower, was unable to get help when needed because he could not walk to reach the buzzer on the wall of his room.

His weight dropped from 8st 4lb to just 6st 2lb and after complaints from his family, he was transferred to a private residential home in Rotherham.

He died just 13 days later on November 4.

"I blame myself for allowing him to go into that place (Rothwell Grange) but I thought I was doing the right thing," said Miss Burton, a divorced mother of three and one of Mr Burton's four daughters.

"They are professionals and I believed he would be safe there. My father suffered from neglect while he was at the home. I've made a formal complaint to Rotherham Council."

Kim Curry, of the council's adult social services department, said an investigation had begun.

"As soon as the investigation is completed I will be speaking with Mr Burton's family personally. But until that time we are unable to comment," she added.