Bootle carer who stole £1,200 from disabled woman is spared prison

A carer who stole more than £1,200 from a disabled woman after she trusted him with her money was spared prison.

Ian Owens, 30, targeted vulnerable Sandra Roberts, 62, while working for Mountbatton Care between August and September last year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Owens, of Peterborough Drive, Bootle, was previously suspended by the Litherland-based firm for falling asleep on the job.

But he was rehired and phoned his victim – who needs daily care since suffering a stroke – to say he was coming round to introduce himself in July.

By August the company was no longer providing care for Ms Roberts, yet Owens turned up at her home in Bootle unannounced.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said Owens let himself in using a key from a key safe.

She was running low on food and gave him a shopping list, her bank card and PIN, and asked him to take out £200.

Mr Hopkins said: “That is strictly a ‘no’ as far as the company is concerned. Staff are not to be handling money or taking bank cards from care users.”

Criminal carers

Owens returned with the shopping and continued to carry out errands for her, making eight withdrawals in total and pocketing £1,220.

Mr Hopkins said: “The defendant said to her ‘if the office ring, don’t tell them I’ve been here’. The defendant had no right to be going to her address at all.”

Owens’ victim was left distressed by the ordeal, but he denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by police.

Mr Hopkins said: “She says this has undermined her confidence in those who should be caring for her.

“She is worried about the money she has lost because she had not saved up for her own needs.”

Owens, with short brown hair and glasses and wearing a grey suit in the dock, admitted theft.

Shamed: callous carers

Nicholas Archer, defending, said his client was good at his job and worked long hours to provide for his three children.

He said Owens was the prime carer for his eldest child, who has severe epilepsy, and also supports his girlfriend, who suffers from depression.

Mr Archer said: “This is a young man who is extremely remorseful. It has been a spectacular fall from grace.

“On one particular occasion he worked 36 hours, which included an overnight stay when he was meant to be awake and fell asleep.

“He was suspended by the employer at that stage. He was out of work and had no income other than benefits.

“They phoned him back up and said they would take him back on. In the meantime he got himself into all kinds of financial mess.”

Judge Anil Murray said Owens had breached his victim’s trust.

He said: “You used her card to get money to solve your own cash problems.

“Your job was to care for her. There was targeting and she was vulnerable.”

However, the judge said he bore in mind Owen’s family responsibilities and that his risk of re-offending was low.

Judge Murray handed Owens eight months behind bars, suspended for 18 months, plus 150 hours of unpaid work.

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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/