Ex-carer sentenced to ten years in prison

A former carer has appeared in court after pleading guilty to burglaries at the homes of his ex-clients.

Aatish Popat pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court on Monday 11 October to one charge of aggravated burglary, one count of burglary and one count of possession of a control class B drug.

The 39-year-old of Mountcastle Road, Leicester has been sentenced at the same court today (Friday 19 November) to 10 years in custody, to serve a minimum of seven years.

On 1 September this year, police received a call from the carer of an elderly gentleman to report he had been confronted by a masked man with a large knife in his home in Northcote Road, Leicester who then took a quantity of money before leaving.

Officers began their enquiries and nearby CCTV was recovered which captured the suspect approaching the property and unlocking the front door. On leaving the property, he was seen to getting into a vehicle which was registered to Aatish Popat.

Popat was arrested at his home address on suspicion of this offence, charged and remanded to appear at court.  

Detectives quickly established similarities between this case and a burglary in Stoneygate Road on 1 July whereby property including cash, bank cards and a digital camera, were taken from the address while the occupant, a disabled man, was sitting on a balcony outside.

Footage from a nearby doorbell camera showed again a masked man of similar description entering the flat and leaving three minutes later with the stolen property.

The care agency, which looks after both victims, were spoken to by police and confirmed that Popat worked for them between October 2020 and May 2021 and he had visited both of these men during his time with them.

Popat was re-arrested for this further offence and with the evidence already gathered which included his fingerprint being found on a bedroom door – a room that carers had no reason to go to –  at the Northcote Road property, he was charged furthermore.

The drugs charge relates to a quantity of cannabis found at Popat’s home when it was searched by officers.

Detective Sergeant Paul Woods, who oversaw the investigations, said: “Popat quite clearly targeted these victims being fully aware of their vulnerabilities and exploited them for his own financial gain.

“However, thanks to some excellent detective work in piecing together the evidence which showed Popat was responsible for not just one burglary but two, we were able to secure charges and place him before the court to face justice for his callous actions.”