Nathan Mann, 20, who admitted murdering two women as they lay in their beds at a nursing home, was sentenced to life at Nottingham Crown Court today and was told he would serve a minimum of 24 years and three months, by judge Mr Justice McCombe.

Nathan Mann crept through an unlocked window before killing Rashmi Badiani, 56, and 72-year-old Radhaben Chauhan in an “unprovoked and cowardly attack”, police said.

Mann, formerly of Avonside Drive, Leicester, entered guilty pleas to the murders at Nottingham Crown Court today as the victims’ families looked on from the public gallery.

But he refused to accept prosecution allegations that he was involved in “sexual conduct” with the pair, claiming he cannot remember it happening.

Commenting on the case Gary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse said “……our free phone number at Action on Elder Abuse – tel: 0 808 808 8141. Our helpline received over 14,000 calls reporting abuse since 2000.

AEA is calling for the new laws that will give older people the same level of protection as children

We need urgent attention to be given to protecting older people and we are now calling for ‘everyone’ – including Government to make a difference. There can be no hiding place for those who choose to commit crimes and the abuse of older people.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call Gary Martin

Action on Elder Abuse is the only national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national free phone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk
Gary other details to draw from or use…..

Mann, dressed in jeans and a blue hooped sweater, heard judge Mr Justice McCombe’s starting point for his prison term will be 30 years.

In a statement issued after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Smith, of Leicestershire Police, described Mann as “a violent and dangerous individual”.

“He took the lives of two defenceless, vulnerable women in an unprovoked and cowardly attack as they lay in their beds,” he said.

“This was a horrific incident that has devastated two families now united in grief. Today’s guilty pleas have spared them the distress that a full trial would bring.”

Outside court, the victims’ relatives spoke of their grief.

Mrs Badiana’s brother-in-law, Dilip Popat, said Mann had taken the smiles from his family’s faces and made their lives a misery.

“We have lost a dear and loved member of our family and that pain will never go away,” he said. “Rashmi was always ready to help others and never hurt anybody.”

Mrs Chauhan’s son-in-law, Vinjay Solanki, said his mother-in-law was a strong-willed lady who had devoted her life to helping others.

“She was recovering from a stroke and looking forward to her grandson’s wedding,” he said.

“Mum was loved by all her family and always had a smile on her face. She will always be missed and remembered by us.

“Mann took away from us one very precious person who can never be replaced. We will never forgive him and he must pay for his crime.”

The women’s bodies were discovered by a member of staff in the room they shared in the early hours of November 7.

A DVD containing images of the crime scene made for “very distressing viewing”, said Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting.

It should not be shown in open court, he said, to “preserve what dignity we can for these ladies”.

He said: “Whatever might have been going on in this defendant’s head, the facts cannot be disputed. And the facts indicate that there was sexual conduct involved in both killings.”

Forensic evidence linked Mann to the clothing of the deceased, said police.

But Paul Mann QC, defending, said: “We know the state of the ladies concerned. He (Mann) accepts that is the case. He has no recollection of being responsible and therefore can make no admission about it.”

The lawyer told the court that his client displayed “very strange behaviour” to relatives at the time of the killings.

“In layman’s terms, he certainly showed signs of being ‘a mixed-up kid’,” he said.

A pre-sentence medical report, he said, would help Mr Justice McCombe arrive at the correct sentence.

The case was adjourned until July 30 for the preparation of the report into Mann’s psychological state.

Immediately after the killings, officers warned residents around the nursing home to keep their doors and windows locked in case the killer struck again.

No-one was available for comment today at Hayes Park Nursing Home.

Speaking after today’s hearing, Det Insp Mark Harrison, the second most senior officer in the case, said: “The home was alarmed although the windows on the ground floor were not alarmed and that may be something the home would wish to consider.”

Tags: Avonside Drive, Charity, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Justice McCombe, Leicester, Nathan Mann, Radhaben Chauhan, Rashmi Badiani