A young thief, Sam Asgari-Tabar, has been sentenced to five years and eight months in prison for crashing a stolen vehicle into a care home in Sunderland, causing severe injuries to a 94-year-old woman. Asgari-Tabar, along with accomplice Reece Parish, was speeding at over 100mph while attempting to evade the police in the stolen car. The reckless chase ended in disaster when Asgari-Tabar lost control of the vehicle and collided with Highcliffe Care Home, injuring multiple elderly residents.
The 94-year-old woman was trapped under a collapsing ceiling, resulting in serious injuries, including a fractured vertebrae. Firefighters had to rescue her from the rubble. The care home sustained £260,000 in damages, with a financial loss of £411,000.
In court, it was revealed that Asgari-Tabar was already banned from driving due to prior drug driving offenses. He was also handed a seven-year and seven-month driving ban in addition to his prison sentence. Parish, on the other hand, received a three-year and one-month jail term for his involvement in the robbery and a separate violent disorder incident during the Sunderland riots.
Judge Stephen Earl described the incident as one of the most severe cases he had encountered in his legal career. He emphasized the impact on the vulnerable residents, many of whom suffer from dementia and other debilitating illnesses. The victims were left traumatized by the unexpected and terrifying event that disrupted their sense of safety in the care home.
The crime began when Asgari-Tabar and Parish duped a seller into allowing them to test drive a BMW, only to drive off without payment. The stolen car was later reported to the police by the victim who was left stranded. The subsequent crash at the care home resulted in several elderly residents sustaining injuries, with some having to be hospitalized.
The son of the 94-year-old victim shared the emotional toll the incident had on his mother, who suffered multiple fractures and mobility limitations. The care home had to evacuate some residents due to the damage caused by the collision. Asgari-Tabar and Parish, both with previous criminal records, admitted to the robbery and other charges related to the incident.
Despite expressions of remorse from their defense lawyers, the consequences of their actions have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.