A FORMER Somerset care home manager accused of murdering elderly residents admitted that her abuse of patients' drugs affected her judgment and "clarity of thought".

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 conceded yesterday that her addiction altered her character, causing her to snap at people and affected her memory.

Bristol Crown Court was previously told that Baker had admitted taking medication from residents at Parkfields Residential Care Home in Butleigh, Somerset.

Being cross-examined by David Fisher, Baker admitted the vast levels of drugs she was taking had a detrimental effect on her role as care home manager.

Mr Fisher said: "It must have affected your clarity of thought." To which Baker replied: "Only when I was on the Prozac as well." Mr Fisher went on: "Surely taking those drugs as a drug addict must have affected the clarity of your thought. It's the reason you were behaving so out of character."

Baker said: "Yes." Mr Fisher pressed: "So it was affecting your clarity of thought." Baker replied: "Yes."

Mr Fisher said that if Baker had not been a drug addict, she would not have lied to doctors, and she agreed.

He went on: "It was affecting your judgment because you were doing things you would not have dreamt of doing had you not been a drug addict."

Baker replied: "Some things."

Mr Fisher then said: "It must have affected your ability to act as a manager of Parkfields."

Baker said: "I maintained my job the best I could."

Mr Fisher added: "And likewise it must have affected your ability to act as a nurse."

Baker responded: "I tried to make sure it didn't." Baker, of Glastonbury, Somerset, denies two counts of murder. She also denies alternative counts of attempted murder and manslaughter relating to Mrs Hay, and a count of manslaughter relating to Mrs Cox.

She earlier admitted 10 counts of possessing class A and C drugs, and one count of perverting the course of justice.

Opening the case in January, prosecutor Mr Fisher told the court: "Rachel Baker was, by her own admission, regularly taking prescribed drugs which must have had a substantial effect on her character and conduct.

"She, for a variety of bizarre and perverted reasons, may have had a desire to control the terminal destiny of some of her residents."

Mr Fisher said care assistant Kathy Slade, who worked with Baker, overheard her boss ask Mrs Hay if she wanted to "end it all" two days before she died.

The trial continues.