Two men face jail after stolen BMW crashed into care home in Sunderland

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Two men who admitted stealing a car which then crashed into a care home will not face criminal proceedings over the deaths of two residents.

Sam Asgari-Tabar and Reece Parish were taking a BMW for a test drive when they stole it, with a woman still inside the car.

Police were alerted to the car, which was stolen in the Fenham area of Newcastle, and it was spotted in the Sunderland area 15 minutes later.

But during a police chase Asgari-Tabar crashed the car into Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, near Sunderland, injuring eight residents who were treated in hospital for their injuries and seriously damaging the building.

Two days later, the force said a woman in her 90s and a woman in her 80s, neither of whom were in the eight taken to hospital, had died.

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Both men have now pleaded guilty to stealing the BMW, and Asgari-Tabar admitted robbery and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to an elderly care home resident who suffered spinal fractures in the crash.

Reece Parish (left) and Sam Asgari-Tabar have both admitted theft (Picture: PA)

The Crown Prosecution Service said it will not proceed with kidnap charges against both defendants, related to the owner of the BMW.

And today Northumbria Police confirmed Parish and Asgari-Tabar will not face charges over the deaths of the two women.

The force said: ‘Following the incident, two care home residents died a short time later but no criminal proceedings are to be brought in relation to the deaths.’

File photo dated 10/07/25 of the scene outside Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland. Reece Parish, of Fordham Road, Sunderland, who appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via a videolink, admitted to robbing a woman of a BMW, along with Sam Asgari-Tabar, which later crashed into the care home in Sunderland while being pursued by police. Two elderly residents at Highcliffe Care Home, Witherwack, died following the crash which happened last month. Reece Parish and co-accused Sam Asgari-Tabar will be sentenced on October 17. Issue date: Tuesday August 19, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Care. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire — The care home was severely damaged in the crash (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Judge Robert Spragg said the men will be sentenced on October 17 and he remanded the pair in custody.

He told them: ‘You have both very sensibly pleaded guilty to these matters and you will be given credit for that from the sentencing judge in due course.’

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