Sheffield carer jailed for attempting to rape vulnerable and elderly care home resident
“Alshabi broke this duty of care in the most unimaginable way”
An agency worker targeted “the most vulnerable members of our community” when trying to rape an elderly care home resident, police have said.
Malek Alshabi was working as an outsourced carer when the crimes occurred in March this year.
Other staff at the care home in North Lincolnshire were alerted to a problem with one of their residents thanks to a motion detector managed by a third-party company - which would normally alert them to any residents who may have fallen, or concerns for safety, within the individual rooms.
Police were called and Alshabi - of Sheffield, but who identifies himself as Yemeno - was swiftly identified by the care home as the one responsible.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, but denied all allegations during interview.
Nevertheless, at Grimsby Crown Court in April he pleaded guilty to the charges and at the same court on Thursday (June 18) was jailed for nine years.
The 53-year-old will be required to spend a further three years on extended licence upon release as a dangerous offender.
He has also been handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Jasmine Morley from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit (PVP) who said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the woman and her family who have been affected by this appalling breach of trust.
“Those in care are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and have the right to feel safe, respected and protected. Alshabi broke this duty of care in the most unimaginable way.
“We would also like to commend the care home staff for the professionalism shown all the way from their initial report and throughout the entirety of the investigation.
“This has been a deeply distressing case, and whilst the result today will not take away the suffering Alshabi has caused, I am pleased he will be behind bars for a very long time.
“Rape, and sexual offences of any nature, will never be tolerated, and this case demonstrates that those who choose to exploit vulnerable individuals will be pursued and held accountable for their inexcusable actions.
“I would urge anyone who has been a victim of any sexual crime to report it to us, regardless of whether it happened last week or 10 years ago. All reports are thoroughly investigated, and we have specially trained officers and independent support agencies who will support you every step of the way.
“If you are ready to, you can report rape and sexual assault to us online. But if you don’t want to talk to us, or if you want extra support, there are lots of people who can help.
“You can speak to these people and organisations privately and confidentially, and unless they think someone is in serious danger, they won’t share anything with us, until you are ready.”