Man sexually assaulted care resident with dementia

Muhammad Arshad abused his position of trust, police said

A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting an elderly care home resident who suffers from dementia.

Muhammad Arshad was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years at a hearing at Reading Crown Court.

The 37-year-old, from Reading, was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The conviction related to the sexual assault of an elderly woman at a care home in Berkshire.

Arshad pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a mentally-disordered female during a court hearing in January after being charged last October.

Det Ch Insp Laura Corscadden, who led the Thames Valley Police investigation, said Arshad had committed a "truly awful crime".

"Arshad was in a position of trust where he was supposed to be caring for people; he despicably abused this trust and assaulted an elderly woman thinking he would never be caught," she said.

The victim and her family had been "traumatised by the abhorrent actions of Arshad", she said.

Ms Corscadden went on to praise their "strength and support" during the police investigation.

"But I know that even seeing Arshad behind bars will not erase the terrible trauma of what has happened," she added.