A shameful carer used the bank card of a Parkinson's sufferer she was supposed to be looking after to buy cigarettes and sweets for herself.
Carol Bell was trusted with the victim's bank card to buy her essentials after she was left needing round the clock care. But in a 10 day period she used the card for her own purposes on seven occasions.
After suspicions were raised, the victim's daughter went to the store in question to investigate. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "CCTV was accessed and the defendant was immediately recognised as the person using the card belonging to the victim."
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Staff also provided receipts, which showed regular purchases of king size cigarettes, top up cards and confectionary. The total value of the fraudulently obtained items was £133.
The daughter then contacted the care company, who checked to see who was caring for her at the relevant time and they confirmed it was Bell. When she was arrested she initially said it was a mistake that she had used the woman's card for herself but she went on to admit her wrongdoing and said she would pay it back.
The 50-year-old, of Vine Street, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation over a ten day period in August 2021. Judge Stephen Earl sentenced her to six months suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work. She must also pay £133 compensation and £300 costs.
Judge Earl said: "In cases where a carer goes into the home of somebody and looks after them and is then given proper use of financial details like a bank card then makes improper use of it, that's something that passes the custody threshold.
"This is done several times and what stopped it is getting caught. These are cases of high culpability because of the people they are looking after. There has to be trust in the system or who's going to let anyone into their home."
Oliver Connor, defending, said: "She has since left the industry and has no plans to return. She offers no real explanation as to why she committed these offences, she doesn't know why she did this.
"She described it to me as stupid and she feels awful about it. She has shown remorse.
"Since leaving the care industry she has worked at a covid testing centre and since lined up other work. She enjoys her job and is thankful to have found it. She lives with her sister in Wallsend and she helps care for her grandchildren."
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