Legal News
Carer Stole from Housebound Pensioner to Repay Loans (7 November 2011)
Date: 07/11/2011
A Lancashire woman stole from an elderly man while in employment as a carer for his ill wife. Victoria Nicholson admitted her guilt to three counts of fraud following stealing a total of £850 from the housebound pensioner. Miss Nicholson was working for Holywell Care, a company offering a home care service, at the time of committing the offences. Sabe Connor, the owner of Holywell Care, described Miss Nicholson as a valued worker and told of how she had been cleared to work for the company by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
Between October 12th and October 14th, Miss Nicholson withdrew money from Dennis Loughram’s personal bank account using the bank card and pin number with which he had entrusted her. She used this money to repay loans and clear her catalogue debts. Keith Kirkham, prosecuting, claimed that Mr. Loughram had started searching for his cash card with his daughter on October 15th, as he required a cash withdrawal. However, he soon came to the realisation that the card was missing. The police were notified, along with the care company, and Miss Nicholson was later held on suspicion of stealing the cash card.
Mr. Loughram told the court that he was “devastated” on discovering that Miss Nicholson had conned them. Miss Nicholson received a 12-month suspended jail sentence and was ordered to perform ten hours of unpaid community work. She was also handed a 12-month supervision order and will be required to pay £850 in victim compensation.
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