Relatives of residents abused by care home staff speak out

Simran Asif threw a box of tissues at 90-year-old dementia sufferer Brian Ford whilst Ridha Kazmi was filmed pouring water down the back of 84-year-old Margaret Carlisle.

Asif also punched a third victim - an 80-year-old man in the face. The Telegraph & Argus has not been able to speak to the man's relatives so has taken the decision to not name him. 

All three victims have since died.

At Bradford Crown Court, Mr Recorder Paul Reid said vulnerable elderly people were entitled to “gentleness and empathy” and not what he described as “casual cruelty”.

Asif, 23, of Park Terrace, Keighley, was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment and Kazmi, 24, of Brantwood Road, Bradford, received two months.

Speaking after the hearing Lynn Wood and Debra Elliott, the daughters of Brian Ford, said they were pleased that justice had been served for their late father but that the sentences should have been longer.

Brian Ford (Image: Submitted by family) They said: “We think they have got away lightly, especially Simran Asif. 

“Whatever has happened at court today, they are guilty. We feel proud for our dad that we got the right verdict.”

Margaret Carlisle’s daughter Cathy Earnshaw-Carlisle said the sentences had left her “a bit numb” but that “it needed to happen to show that you cannot just do this to vulnerable people".

Margaret Carlisle (Image: Submitted by family) She said: “It’s just so shocking that people go into that profession to care for somebody, and they do something like this. I don’t see any care. There should be more safeguarding.”

Cathy and Margaret pictured together (Image: Submitted by family)

Prosecutor Eleanor Fry said Asif and Kazmi were employed by Wingfield Care Home in Bingley when the incidents occurred. Asif was a senior carer and Kazmi was a care assistant.

The 80-year-old man was injured on November 25, 2022, as he was being readied for bed. He swayed his arms and became aggressive prompting Asif to comment “Don’t f*****g p*** me off” before punching him, causing a black eye.

Asif denied causing the injury, claiming the man had punched himself.

Two days later Asif and Kazmi were “in a giggly mood” in the home’s lounge when Asif threw a tissue box at Mr Ford, who was sleeping. It hit him on the head causing “visible pain”. At the time Mr Ford was suffering from dementia and skin cancer and had a large wound on his head.

Kazmi reported the second incident to managers on November 28. Asif was interviewed and suspended on December 7.

On January 20, 2023, Asif was dismissed. The same day she sent two videos to a manager and other staff. One showed Kazmi pulling the collar of Margaret Carlisle’s pyjamas to pour water down her back “causing obvious distress”.

Wingfield Care Home in Bingley

The other showed Kazmi kicking a ball away from her, running away laughing, and then throwing a napkin at the elderly woman who was left “disorientated, distressed, and confused”.

The court heard that Asif forwarded the videos as she had lost her job at Wingfield, but Kazmi was still employed there.

Both women later pleaded guilty to being a care worker ill-treating/wilfully neglecting an individual.

Mitigating for Asif, Rebecca Young said she accepted that she was in a position of trust dealing with vulnerable people who were left in her care. She said she deeply regretted her actions and offered “a genuine heartfelt apology” to the victims and their families.

She said Asif’s behaviour was “completely out of character” and may have been hormonal as she was pregnant at the time.

She said Asif’s punching of the man was as a result of “instinctively lashing out”. She said she could not explain why she threw the box at Mr Ford, which was “completely unacceptable”.

Mitigating for Kazmi, Saf Salam said her behaviour had been “deplorable” but that it was her bravery in acting as a whistle-blower that ultimately led to the prosecution being brought “to her own detriment”.

He said she had “struggled with her conscience” and had opted to “come clean” about what she had witnessed.

He said: “She is disgusted with herself and accepts that what she did was wrong.”

Sentencing the duo Recorder Reid said: “The victims were very elderly indeed

“They were vulnerable. They were not in a position to look after themselves.

“Suffering from dementia they were not able to express themselves or make any complaint.

“It was very unpleasant.”