A FORMER care home manager accused of murdering elderly residents has admitted abusing patients' drugs amid the "stress, pain and emotional trauma" of running the place.

Rachel Baker, 44, is alleged to have killed Frances Hay, 85, and Lucy Cox, 97, with a lethal dose of medication, while she herself was misusing controlled drugs.

The registered nurse yesterday conceded taking medication from residents at Parkfields Residential Care Home, in Butleigh, Somerset, adding that she was "disgusted, ashamed and appalled" at her behaviour. But she denied that her "diverting" of their medication ever affected their care, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Giving evidence, the mother of one accepted the suggestion of her defence barrister Richard Smith that she "exaggerated symptoms and lied about prescriptions" to obtain drugs.

Mr Smith asked how she felt now about what she put her family through. Baker replied: "Disgusted, ashamed, appalled at what I put them through. I betrayed their trust, their love for me. I betrayed the trust of everyone who tried to support me. I'm totally ashamed and disgusted."

He added that she started to abuse drugs in 2005 because of the stress of running the home and "always having to save money". She said she did not disagree with a doctor's report that she was "stressed, exhausted, overworked and emotional". Baker also revealed feeling "useless" after the death of one resident, Fred Green.

Her abuse of drugs began with the taking of a single tramadol tablet that eased a pulled back sustained after lifting Mr Green out his bed, she said.

Asked if the residents' care was ever affected by her dependence she said: "Never. Their care and quality of life was the most important part of my function."

Baker, of Boundary Way, Glastonbury, Somerset, denies two counts of murder. She also denied alternative counts of attempted murder and manslaughter relating to Mrs Hay, and a count of manslaughter relating to Mrs Cox.

She had earlier admitted eight counts of possessing class A and C drugs, and one count of perverting the course of justice. Yesterday morning she admitted two further counts of possession of Class A drugs.

Opening the case in January, prosecutor David Fisher told the court that Baker may have had a "bizarre and perverted" desire to control residents' destiny. Kathy Slade, who worked with Baker, said she overheard her boss ask Mrs Hay if she wanted to "end it all" two days before she died.

The trial continues.