A CORONER said a care home had been "grossly negligent" in allowing a brain-damaged car crash victim to wander off to his death.

The semi-clothed body of former postman John Hanaphy, 41, from Banstead, Surrey, was found in a ditch at Crowborough 12 days after he went missing.

An inquest heard Mr Hanaphy had spent 18 months in hospital after he was hit by a car in 1997, before being transferred to The Vines, an exclusive private care home on the outskirts of Crowborough.

His brother Paul Hanaphy said: "He liked walking but he wouldn't walk far because he would forget where he was."

The inquest heard staff at The Vines failed to notice when Mr Hanaphy wandered off on September 16 last year. Staff said an alarm system failed to show the front door had been opened.

They denied they were under instructions that Mr Hanaphy should receive constant "one to one" care.

After a three-day search involving 60 officers, tracker dogs and a helicopter, Mr Hanaphy's body was found less than a mile from the home.

He died from hypothermia, although a pathologist said his earlier brain damage had contributed to his death.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of neglect directed towards Libra Health, who operate The Vines.

He said: "In this case there is, in my view, gross negligence on the part of the home."

He added: "I accept that the support staff looking after John are good people charged with creating a caring environment.

"But they allowed standards of vigilance to drop. The level of risk had not changed."

The coroner added that Mr Hanaphy was not capable of making rational decisions and said: "When he left the home he would have been in mortal danger."

Aspokeswoman for Libra Health said: "The management and staff of The Vines echo the comments made by the coroner in relation to the family of Mr Hanaphy and extends its sympathies to his family and friends.

"We will now consider all matters raised by the inquest and take all appropriate action."

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