Worker stole £17,500 care home payments

A care home worker cashed £17,500 worth of cheques that elderly residents had handed over to pay for their accommodation, a court was told.

Mother-of-two Tracy Bennett was today facing a jail term after admitting taking the cash over a four-month period while she was working as an administrator at Holbeche House in Wall Heath, Dudley.

The 40-year-old, of Broad Street, Kingswinford, transferred batches of cheques into her own account from residents at the home when she was left in "dire straits" after her husband walked out, Dudley Magistrates Court was told yesterday.

The scam came to light when residents fell behind on their payments despite the cheques having been sent on time, said Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting.

An account had not been passed on to the home's new owners when it changed hands, so Bennett used it to store the residents' money before later paying it into her own account, Mr Cooper said. Mr Cooper said the residents had been caused "a lot of upset" when they ended up in arrears.

Bennett took £17,500 between October last year and this February, but only £8,000 has been recovered, the court heard.

Bennett, who has since resigned from her job, admitted two charges of fraud by abuse of position. The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report and District Judge Michael Wheeler said "all sentencing options" including prison would be considered.

Sarah Ramamurthy, spokeswoman for the home's operator Four Seasons, said after the hearing: "We will ensure that if any resident or former resident is found to have been caused financial loss then this will be reimbursed."