'It's like torture' - Patient with autism fears for his safety in mental health units

People with autism and learning difficulties should be moved from institutions into the community, the government promised a decade ago.

(Subscribe: https://bit.ly/C4_News_Subscribe)

Yet tonight - in a joint investigation with the Independent newspaper, this programme can reveal the shocking treatment of a 28-year-old man who has now been locked up for more than 10 years.

Nicholas Thornton, who has autism and a learning disability, has been abused physically and verbally. One nurse even tried to suffocate him. Nicholas is currently in a mental health unit despite having no mental health diagnosis.

And a warning that this report contains distressing images.

-------

Watch more of our explainer series here - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXjqQf1xYLQ6bu-iixvoFTVsiXQVlVniX
Get more news at our site - https://www.channel4.com/news/

Follow us:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Channel4News
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@c4news
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/channel4news/