Care home boss who stole from resident’s savings avoids jail
A TRUSTED care home manager who stole nearly £7,000 from a vulnerable resident by using her bank card has avoided a jail term.
Care home manager Shirley Ward who stole from a vulnerable resident avoided a jail term
But Ward, 58, began taking money for herself, using the card for a year.
It was only after Ward was dismissed for an unrelated matter in January 2016 that her fraud was spotted.
Police found hidden bank statements and three of the resident’s bank cards, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Ward, from Bedlington, North Tyneside, was yesterday handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to fraud.
Jane Foley, prosecuting, told the court the victim had been living at Melrose House Care Home in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, for four years when Ward started helping herself to her money in January 2015.
Ward had been in charge of withdrawing cash for the victim’s day-to-day expenses
I have started having anxiety attacks because of this
By January 2016 Ward had taken a total of £6,972.87.
Ms Foley said as well as giving the victim her money, Ward also withdrew cash for herself and hid any subsequent bank statements in a bid to cover her tracks.
Ward then began taking money for herself, using the card for a year
Ms Foley said money also went out of the woman’s account directly to the council to pay for her place in the care home.
She added: “By October 2015, the payments to the council had stopped due to their being insufficient funds.”
In a statement, the victim said: “I trusted Shirley Ward very much but now she’s destroyed my faith in someone in a management position. I have started having anxiety attacks because of this.”