Autistic woman contracts HIV after being raped in London care home

A woman in her mid-fifties, with autism, bi-polar and learning disabilities, has contracted HIV after being raped in a care home in London.

The ‘distressing case’ was revealed in a report by the Brent Safeguarding Adult Review.

Professor Michael Preston, chair of the review, said this is a woman “who should have been safe whilst being looked after in care settings”.

She has lived in residential care since a child and was found to be HIV positive in 2016. She had lived in the care home where she was raped since 1990.

The woman who is referred to as Cassie in the report to protect her identity was diagnosed by the Infectious Diseases Team at Guy’s Hospital, where she was taken after she collapsed two years ago. The report reveals she has no 'readily understandable language'.

Identifying the rapist would be extremely difficult as doctors can only say that Cassie was infected between 2007 and 2015 and so the police were unable to take any forensic evidence. She has now been moved to another care home with Professor Preston saying she has ‘settled well into her new living environment and she appears well and happy’.

The provider that ran the care home told Cassie’s mum, they thought the rapist was a care worker on a night shift.

The Brent Safeguarding Adults Board expressed ‘its deep and sincere regret to Cassie and to her family’.

The care home she was at has now been shut down and all residents have been found alternative accommodation.

Cassie's mum told the safeguarding board "Cassie has no control over her body and this man takes over her body".

She spoke of the distress she has suffered due to her daughter's abuse, saying: "As I get older and my body deteriorates, I think of Cassie and this makes me tearful as she not only has to deal with her autism but now has to deal with HIV as well. I worry about what will happen to her when I am not here anymore."

A care worker interviewed by the Board called Cassie "a nice, noisy person, happy and a lovely lady", saying: "She’s friendly and cheeky. She slowed down a lot when she was ill. She didn’t want to eat. Now, she has put weight on. She loves her cooked breakfast."

A spokesperson for Brent Council said: “All of the partners on the Safeguarding Adults Board, including the Council, have expressed our deep and sincere regret to both Cassie and her family. We can confirm that Cassie is no longer living in a care home managed by the previous provider and the other five residents who lived there with her have also been moved to other homes with the co-operation of their families.

"Cassie, and all the former residents are now safe and happy, and Cassie is having all her health and care needs met. We continue to monitor her progress regularly as well as maintaining contact with her family. We no longer place any residents in care homes run by this provider.

“The entire independent safeguarding board worked closely with the police and received regular updates regarding their investigations. A full investigation was conducted by the police who concluded that unfortunately and despite best efforts, there was insufficient evidence to bring a criminal prosecution against anyone."