Two men jailed after BMW crashed into Sunderland care home

One 94-year-old dementia patient suffered multiple fractures to her back and neck and four others, in their 70s, 80s and 90s, were left with fractures, bruises and cuts after the "catastrophic" collision.

Shocking footage showed the stolen black car come off the road and ram the front of the care home building with such force the back of the vehicle lifted into the air.

The damage to the building was over £260,000.

A total of eight people from the home were taken to hospital and tragically two women in their 90s and 80s passed away the following day, but no charges were brought in relation to the deaths.

Sam Asgari-Tabar, who was at the wheel of the stolen motor and already banned from the roads and on a suspended sentence, has today (November 11) been jailed for five years and eight months for robbery and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was banned from driving for seven years and seven months and must pass an extended test before he can get back behind the wheel.

His passenger Reece Parish, who admitted robbery of the car and violent disorder in relation to an unrelated city centre riot, was locked up for three years and one month.

Judge Stephen Earl said the crash was "probably one of the worst series of offending of this type that I have encountered in my professional career".

Judge Earl said the high speed driving was over a prolonged period and through low speed areas and added: "It's amazing others were not caught up in this appalling catastrophe."

The judge said the crash was "catastrophic" and praised the emergency services and care home staff for their "high standards" on the day.

The court heard the pair had carjacked the BMW, with a female seller still inside, after they arranged over Facebook marketplace to buy it from her in Newcastle, despite not having enough money.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the woman, who was dealing with the vehicle sale for her brother, was eventually bundled out of the car before it was driven towards Sunderland, with Asgari-Tabar behind the wheel.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling said officers spotted and chased the stolen motor but added: "The police vehicle was struggling to keep up, even at speeds approaching 100mph."

The stolen vehicle then smashed into the Highcliffe Care Home on Whitchurch Road at high speed.

Miss Dowling said: "The care home itself has has been subject to what has been described as a catastrophic impact by the vehicle.

"The building is on two floors, which mirror each other. The upstairs lounge and lobby are directly above the downstairs lounge and lobby.

"At the time the residents were still up and about, a lot of them seemed to be sitting in the lobby area at the time of the collision.

"The floor of the upstairs lounge gave way and it brought down the ceiling on the residents who were seated below.

"Emergency services attended the scene and officers entered the property, showing scant regard for their own safety because they wanted to get the residents out. The roof was still falling in."

Miss Dowling said four residents were immediately taken out of the building for treatment to injuries including fractures, bruising and cuts but one 94-year-old resident, who has dementia, was trapped under the rubble with fractures to her spine and neck.

Her family said she went from an independent resident who enjoyed activities in the home to appearing like a "frail old lady" who did not want to celebrate her 95th birthday.

Her son said in a statement: "She is not the same person, her ability to hold a conversation drastically declined. She has no enthusiasm for activities she once loved."

Asgari-Tabar, 21, of Stratford Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and robbery. He was on a suspended sentence for violence at the time.

Parish, also 21, of Fordham Road, Sunderland, admitted robbery and violent disorder in relation to his involvement in the riot in Sunderland last August.

Nicholas Lane, defending Asgari-Tabar said he had been studying engineering at university and was "immature" but able to turn his life back around.

Christopher knox, defending Parish, said has family support and good prospects of living a "sensible life".