It is vital any suspicion of abuse of elderly or vulnerable people at residential homes is investigated thoroughly, and there have been some high profile cases involving such acts.

But it is also equally important this isn’t allowed to develop into a witch hunt, with authorities reacting in a knee-jerk way to even the slightest hint of anything amiss.

That is exactly what appears to have happened to the owner and seven staff of a Bradford care home whose prosecution for alleged neglect of an elderly resident was thrown out by a judge yesterday. He decided evidence put before the court flatly contradicted claims there had been long and wilful neglect.

Quite rightly, all eight defendants have now been completely exonerated, but they have obviously been subjected to a long and harrowing ordeal since the investigation began in December 2013. Lessons must be learned, and this case should act as a warning of the dangers with such prosecutions.

It appears the resident involved was himself a ‘challenging’ patient and had been given notice to leave, with the owner wanting him to be admitted to a psychiatric ward at Airedale Hospital but being told this was not possible. It seems both the home and the patient have been let down by the system.

What is vital now is this sorry affair does not lead to any backlash that could see genuine cases less likely to go to court.

There are still sadly instances where neglect is all too real. It is vital one erroneous prosecution does not impact future investigations.