Care worker jailed for stealing more than £16k from man with dementia
30 year old Jemma Laney from Warrington spent the 78-year-old man's money on designer handbags and trips away
A care worker's been jailed after admitting stealing £16,500 from a man with dementia.
Jemma Laney, 30, of Saundersfoot Close, Warrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position and one of theft from a 78-year-old man.
She was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Chester Crown Court on Monday 26 November.
Laney was employed by a care agency to help the man prepare his evening meals and take his medication. However, on April 12, 2017, she opened an online banking account on his accounts started to spend vast sums of the victim’s money.
As well as a large number of cash withdrawals there were significant sums spent on shopping online including shopping sprees at Next and Amazon on Michael Kors handbags and purses, a Tag Heur watch, a Louis Vuitton holdall and scarf, a Stella McCartney handbag and an Emporio Armani watch. She also spent money on trips to Alton Towers, Gulliver’s World, Haven Holiday Resorts and Chester Zoo.
A number of longstanding direct debits the victim made every month to charities were also cancelled by Laney.
In her interview with police Laney claimed that the victim had told her: “They are going to take everything, spend it all,” and gave her his bank card and statements.
The fraud was discovered after the victim’s social worker encouraged him to open some bank statements and a large number of dubious transactions were found.
Detective Constable Ian Morris said: “Laney used the victim’s failing health as an opportunity to steal money and spend it on luxury items for herself.
“This is a shocking way to treat a vulnerable man and I hope this sentence brings some comfort to the victim.”