Autistic woman diagnosed with HIV after she was raped by night shift worker

An autistic woman has been diagnosed with HIV after she was allegedly raped by a night shift worker in a facility where she was being cared for.

The woman in her 50s, named Cassie, was raped at some point between 2006 and 2016 at a facility run by a private company in Brent. She had been in care since she was a child. She was severely autistic and lacked the capacity to consent to sex

The woman suffered from rashes, bruising, teeth problems, and a loss of appetite from around 2007. At some point, she collapsed and was taken to Guy’s Hospital, south London, where it was discovered that she had HIV. 

Dr Margaret Flynn found that Cassie had been failed by the people that were meant to be looking after her.

Cassie’s mother believes that she was raped by a night shift worker, but because of the large time frame in which it is alleged to have happened police have been unable to bring anyone to justice.

Scotland Yard began an inquiry into the incident but closed their inquiry in 2017 and the council no longer uses the company involved.

A police spokesman said: 

Due to the 10-year period, the offence was alleged to have occurred between, no clear suspects could be identified and there were no forensic opportunities available.

There are no lines of inquiry that require further examination at this time.

A Brent Council spokesman expressed their “deep and sincere regret to both Cassie and her family” in a statement. The statement also revealed that the council no longer uses the facility involved. Cassie and the other five residents who lived there with her have also been moved to other homes with the co-operation of their families.