A carer accused of assaulting her patient and threatening to kill her using witchcraft, has been cleared of assault charges.

Hilda Pratt of Tennison Road, South Norwood, was accused of attacking Andrea Bowes-Adolfess at her home in Thornton Heath on April 17, last year.

Mrs Bowes-Adolfess of Hamilton Road, claimed Miss Pratt grabbed her by the throat and flung her against a wall during an argument about her administering care wearing disposable gloves.

The 51-year-old requires round the clock care after being hit by a van in 2008, which left her in chronic pain and partially dependant on a wheelchair.

Giving evidence at Croydon Magistrates' Court, Miss Pratt, 37, who had been looking after Mrs Bowes-Adolfess for 10 weeks, said the use of disposable gloves was an ongoing issue between the pair and Mrs Bowes-Adolfess had attacked her.

Recalling the incident Miss Prat said: "I creamed her and asked her what she wanted to wear today.

She said: "'Can you get those f****** gloves off?' I said it is not possible- we had been on this gloves issue before.

"She said 'If you don't want to take those f****** gloves off this relationship stops today'."

Miss Pratt told the court she continued to dress Mrs Bowes-Adolfess when she felt a hand on her neck.

"One hand was on my hair and one hand was on my neck, I said 'why are you doing that?' She was very forceful on me," she said.

The court heard after struggling from her patient's grasp, Miss Pratt left the room but as she turned her back she was pulled from behind.

She said: "I had pain all over me, I saw it was her nails on my back. I was really struggling because she was behind me."

Returning a not guilty verdict, district judge Karen Hammond said she could not be sure beyond reasonable doubt that if Miss Pratt had hit Mrs Bowes-Adolfess, that she was not acting in self defence.

Speaking after the case Miss Pratt said: "I am very pleased because I have been suspended for the last 15 months with no work and no pay over something I didn't do.

"I have cared for people over 100-years-old and nothing like that had ever happened. I am very happy the truth has finally come out."