A carer who stole money from two elderly clients told a judge he has saved money towards paying them back. Razvan Ionita previously denied wrongdoing and was due to face a trial on October 25 last year.
But the 40-year-old, of Foster Court, Bath, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on September 8 last year and pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud. He admitted abusing his position as a carer to steal £5,650.95 from Grace Murphy between November 1, 2018 and August 1, 2019.
He also admitted abusing his position as a carer to steal £2,500 from Edith Jones between the same dates. Both women, who were in their 90s, have since died, the court heard.
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Ionita was due to be sentenced at the court on October 7 last year. Judge William Hart deferred sentence until today (April 4, 2022), telling Ionita: "You abused their trust. You abused the trust of your employers. It was callous and unforgiveable."
The judge told Ionita to save £200 a month towards compensating the women's estates. The judge added: "If you stay out of trouble, work and save, I'll suspend the sentence. If not I won't."
Ionita told the judge he had saved £200 a month and had stayed out of trouble. The judge handed him a 20-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours' unpaid work. He ordered Ionita to pay back all of what he stole in monthly payments from May.
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The judge told Ionita: "You know you've come very close to going to prison. Your barrister won't be able to save you if you fail to comply with this order."
Earlier Gregory Gordon, prosecuting via video link, said Ionita used both women's debit cards and helped himself to a total of £8,150 from their accounts. The matter came to light after suspicious withdrawals were spotted and CCTV was recovered of Ionita using the cards, one of which was found in a sunglasses case in his car.
When interviewed Ionita said he took cash from the first complainant after giving her "private care". After it was discovered he also defrauded the second woman - using her card directly after the first woman's card - he initially denied wrongdoing.
Emily Evans, defending, said Ionita had taken the money to support his wife and family. She said her client was extremely disappointed in himself and had disclosed the offending to his recruitment agency.
Miss Evans said: "He tells me he's still being offered work he could take up. He very much regrets his behaviour.
"It has been a salutary lesson for him. He has tried very hard to show he can be trusted in that capacity. It is a job he has a passion for and he has an excellent work record."
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