Two men convicted of robbery following fatal care home crash

Two men have been convicted of robbing a woman of a BMW which later crashed into a care home in Sunderland during a police chase.

Two elderly residents at Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack died after the crash last month. Reece Parish, of Fordham Road, Sunderland, 21, admitted robbery during an appearance at Newcastle Crown Court from prison via videolink.

He denied a kidnap charge relating to a woman who was in the BMW 3-series while he and co-accused Sam Asgari-Tabar took it for a test drive. Asgari-Tabar, of no fixed address, 21, had previously admitted robbery and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to an elderly care home resident, who suffered spinal fractures when the car smashed into the building.

Judge Robert Spragg said the men will be sentenced on 17 October. 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." The Crown Prosecution Service indicated it will not proceed with the kidnap charges against the pair and those alleged offences will lie on file. Northumbria Police were called to reports of a stolen car in Fenham, Newcastle, on the evening of 10 July and a suspected vehicle was spotted in the Sunderland area 15 minutes later.

Officers pursued the car, which ended with the BMW crashing into the care home. Read more from Sky News:Key moments revealing Putin's hold on TrumpSomething odd is happening in the markets The force initially said eight residents required hospital treatment.

Two days later, it said a woman in her 90s and a woman in her 80s, neither of whom were taken to hospital, had died and police inquiries were ongoing. Northumbria Police confirmed the two men 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." After the hearing, Chief Superintendent Mark Hall, of Northumbria Police, said: "This was a shocking incident in one of our communities - the actions of both men that night were incredibly reckless. "I am pleased the swift and diligent work of all involved in our investigation left them with no choice but to admit their guilt at court.".