A CARE boss has appeared in court accused of offences relating to the death of a resident in a Burnley old people's home last year.

John Alexander Pinder, 47, is facing three separate charges relating to the death, believed to be in March 2013, at the Abiden Rest Home, in Rosehill Road, Burnley.

Pinder is accused of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act, where persons not in his employment were exposed to health and safety risks.

Another two charges, said to relate to March 14, and a date in June 2013, allege that he contravened health and safety management regulations.

The first offence is said to relate to staff who work for him and the second matter involves those ‘not in his employment’. The resident has not been named.

Joanne Ridgeway, prosecuting on behalf of Burnley Council, said "These particular offences are related to the death of a resident and we say were the material cause of the death."

The prosecution and defence agreed that the allegations should be determined by a crown court judge and jury.

The maximum sentence, on conviction, for the offences would be a £20,000 fine, if dealt with by magistrates, the court heard.

Magistrates chairman Victor Foster said that the bench agreed that the case should be sent for crown court trial.

Pinder, of Rosehill Road, did not enter a plea to any of the three allegations and was remanded on unconditional bail until July 7.

Council officials in Burnley have refused to name the resident who is alleged to have died as a result of the alleged offences.

But a spokesman confirmed that the resident died in March 2013 and that the care home was summonsed to court after the authority undertook an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

n Abiden provides residential care for up to 22 people and Pinder is registered as the manager/owner of the premises.