BOLTON CARE HOME MANAGER SENTENCED FOR DISTRESSING STALKING AND THREATS

A care home manager named Kishan Patel has been convicted of multiple serious offences involving stalking and threatening women he interviewed for jobs. The court heard how he exploited his access to their contact details to repeatedly call and send threatening, sexually explicit messages, causing significant distress. The victims ranged in age from 18 to 22, and some were applying for positions at the care home operated by his family business, Highpoint Care.

The court revealed disturbing details, including threats to break into victims' homes and commit sexual violence. For example, one victim recounted receiving a call at 5 am with sexual comments, which continued for months and involved numerous phone calls from a withheld number. Data showed he contacted her 53 times between September 2023 and May 2024. She described her mental health decline, saying: "I was confused, wondering if it was a prank. I overthought it. It became unhealthy. I was going over every person in my contacts, guessing who the person might be."

Another victim reported being contacted in 2022 with persistent sexualized comments, eventually identifying Patel when he forgot to hide his number again. She reported feeling crazy, scared, and paranoid, avoiding walking home after work.

A third victim received similar weekly calls, with Patel threatening harm, stating he "knew where she lived, would break into her house and rape her." She described how she changed her number due to the distress and now feels much different from her previous bubbly personality: "I feel like I've aged 10 years due to the stress and worry."

A fourth victim, whose sister worked at the care home, reported receiving numerous calls referencing her mother's death, which made her feel disgusted and objectified. Patel was identified after he failed to withhold his number during contact.

Patel's conduct caused severe emotional distress, panic attacks, and fear among the victims. He has no previous convictions but was handed a 10-year stalking protection order last week. During sentencing, Judge Anil Murray described Patel's actions as a breach of trust and emphasized the impact on his victims, stating that he used their contact details to threaten and scare them, spreading terror.

The defendant admitted to four counts of stalking involving serious alarm or distress and was sentenced to three years in prison. The judge highlighted that Patel's behavior was fueled by reckless alcohol and cocaine use following the stresses of the COVID pandemic, leading to impaired judgment and disturbing conduct. His defense acknowledged his responsibility, and the court recognized his otherwise good character prior to these offences. The case illustrates the devastating effects stalking and threatening behaviour can have on victims, and emphasizes the importance of accountability and protection for vulnerable individuals.