Care worker attacked patients at Hampshire care home

Farzad Sedigh-Rahnama, 45, targeted four men - all suffering from brain injuries or dementia - at a care home in Hampshire.

But he was caught out when a concerned colleague secretly filmed him with a 64-year-old Alzheimer's patient.

The footage showed him throwing an exercise ball hard at the man's head, slapping him and forcing him to "meow like a cat".

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In another incident, he told a patient to "eat faster you mother..."  

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said in a further incident the carer attacked a 63-year-old man with a brain injury, punching him twice to the head, and attempting to blame another patient at the home. 

In yet another incident, Sedigh-Rahnama was seen repeatedly slapping a a 75-year-old Alzheimer's patient on the head. 

All of the abuse was targeted against men aged 61-75 at Kitnocks House in Curdridge, near Botley, and took place between June 1 and July  31 in 2022.

The health care assistant, who had worked at the home since 2017 and had previously been named Carer of the Year, was arrested on January 12, 2022. He was suspended on July 8 that year.

When interviewed by police he accepted the abuse shown in the footage and said he had done it because he was stressed.

He denied any further abuse but apologised for his actions, going on to admit four charges of of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker in June 2023 at Southampton Crown Court.  

Kitnocks House care home in Curdridge

He had been accused of the charges being racially or religiously motivated but denied this - and a judge found he carried out the offences 'for his own gratification'.

Prosecutor Mr Lawson said the victims were "extremely vulnerable" and "physically unable to defend themselves". 

He said they are "reliant on the carers for everything" with employees like Sedigh-Rahnama hired to do tasks such as washing and cleaning the patients. 

Sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker said that this was an "outstanding breach of trust" of the patients, their families and the care home. 

He added: "This was not a one-off. It was a protracted course of conduct.

"These offences are so serious that the sentence must be immediate.

"That is in part because this sentence is not just a matter of punishment, they are intended to deter."

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Sedigh-Rahnama, of Botley Gardens, Southampton, was jailed for 15 months. 

Simon Walters, for the disgraced carer, said his behaviour was "utterly indefensible", and added his client is "deeply ashamed of his behaviour". 

Mr Walters added: "He knows that the way he conducted himself is a matter of disgust to anyone else who has been connected to this case in any way.

"The care industry is constantly crying out for staff - working six-day weeks, 12-and-a-half hour shifts, 75 hours a week. 

"It is not an excuse but it is perhaps an explanation why someone that was liked and trusted and was a valued member of that community saw such a significant deterioration in his behaviour."

Hampshire County Council and Cornerstone Healthcare Group, the company which runs Kitnocks House, have been approached for comment.

Kitnocks House is a specialist nursing home accommodating up to 63 men and women with neurological problems.

It was last inspected in May 2022 and rated Good by the Care Quality Commission in August that year.