A family who were freed from jail after allowing a vulnerable woman to suffer serious physical harm is likely to be sent back following a Supreme Court ruling. Asgar Sheikh and his parents Khalid and Shabnam Sheikh were jailed in February 2024 after they were convicted following a trial for allowing harm to come to Asgar's wife Ambreen, who suffered injuries at the family home in Clara Street, Fartown, Huddersfield. Asghar's sister Shagufa received a suspended prison sentence, Yorkshire Live reports.
Background of the case
Ambreen, who had moved from Pakistan to Huddersfield for a new life, had suffered a severe burn to her lower back and was left in a persistent vegetative state. She was described as a "bright and ambitious" woman. During the trial, jurors heard Ambreen had suffered a burn to her lower back and bottom and then was "tricked or forced into taking glimepiride," which is a drug meant for those with diabetes, before falling unconscious.
In January last year, the Court of Appeal quashed the four defendants' convictions in relation to the charge of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical injury. They were then released from prison. The Court of Appeal said there was not enough evidence for the jury to have reasonably concluded there was malicious intent in administering glimepiride, and concluded that the argument of "no case to answer" by the defence during the trial should have succeeded.
Supreme Court reinstates convictions
The argument centred on the circumstances in which the harm occurred and whether the defendants should have foreseen it and acted to prevent it. Asgar, Khalid and Shabnam were jailed for seven years and nine months. The Crown Prosecution Service appealed the Court of Appeal judgement and succeeded in having the convictions reinstated by the Supreme Court. The defendants did not appeal their convictions for perverting the course of justice in relation to their delay in seeking medical attention and concealing the circumstance of Ambreen becoming unconscious.
The Supreme Court concluded in a judgement in July that the convictions should be reinstated. The judgement said the original trial judge did not misdirect the jury and was correct to dismiss the submissions of "no case to answer". It is understood that the defendants will be called before a judge at Leeds Crown Court in due course where the Supreme Court decision will be noted and the three defendants who received prison sentences will then be returned to custody to serve the remainder of their sentences.
