AN Addingham man has pleaded not guilty to wilfully neglecting a 79-year-old man allegedly found in filthy conditions at the property.

Stephen Pelkowski, 51, of Lodge Hill, who owns and manages Highdell Nursing Home, in Westfield Lane, Idle, appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday and denied wilfully neglecting a person who lacked, or was believed to lack, mental capacity.

The alleged victim, Edward Hinnells, is said to have been neglected between February 13, 2013, and December 30, 2013.

Also pleading not guilty to the offence were senior care assistant Jennifer Cross, 60, of The Green, Idle; staff nurse Desmond Crowley, 59, of Hazelhurst Brow, Daisy Hill, Bradford; cleaner Piotr Czajkowski, 49, of Ravenscliffe Avenue, Ravenscliffe, Bradford; senior carer Valerie James, 58, of Stonegate Road, Eccleshill, Bradford; senior nurse Phillipa Robinson, 57, of Hall Royd, Shipley, and carer Nicki Kassama, 30, of Wrose Mount, Wrose, Shipley.

An eighth defendant, mental health nurse Gerard McDermott, 58, of Maria Street, Ilkley, was not present in court for the case management hearing.

His barrister said he had just returned to the UK from a holiday in South Africa and had permission not to attend.

The four men and four women will stand trial at Bradford Crown Court on April 18.

Prosecutor Stephen Wood said he now believed the trial would not last as long as the original four-week estimate.

He said he would draw up a list of agreed facts, with the help of defence lawyers.

The Crown's case is that Mr Hinnells was left in filth and squalor in his room at the home.

A widower with five children, he was allegedly found by police officers in dirty conditions on December 19, 2013.

Mr Wood said the prosecution would allege that the defendants, variously and at different times, wilfully neglected the pensioner over a ten-month period.

He requested a big courtroom for the trial and said there would need to be TV screens to show the jury photographs of Mr Hinnells' room at the home.

Judge Jonathan Rose, who is to try the case, told the defendants to keep in close contact with their legal advisers.

He rebailed all of them to the trial date.